Uppsala (pop. 175 000) is located 50 mi/80 km northwest of Stockholm and it is one of the oldest and most traditional cities of Sweden. You can feel the winds of history at many places in and around the town. Old Uppsala a few km north of the city is sometimes called "The cradle of the Swedish state". Uppsala locals are proud of the 500-year-old university with its academic heritage, of Scandinavia's greatest cathedral and of the 16th century castle. Even though it is Sweden's 4th biggest city(!), it has preserved a rather small-town character. The student clubs ("Nations") housed in mostly magnificent buildings form a considerable part of the night-life. Once a year, on 30 April, the 30,000 students take over the city completely. Together with thousands of visitors they welcome spring on Walpurgis Eve.