Uraniborg Palace

Uraniborg is the late 16th-century observatory and research complex established by the astronomer Tycho Brahe on the island of Ven in Öresund. It served as Brahe’s principal centre for astronomical observation and scientific work.

Built and equipped by Tycho Brahe in the 1570s and 1580s, Uraniborg supported detailed naked-eye astronomical observations and a range of scientific workshops, including a printing press and laboratories. Stjerneborg, the subterranean complement, was constructed to house instruments in a sheltered space; both were central to Brahe’s influential observational programme.

The site sits on the island of Ven in the Öresund strait off Sweden’s southern coast and is reached by regular ferries from nearby mainland ports.

• Founder and date: Constructed in the late 16th century by the astronomer Tycho Brahe as a combined observatory, laboratory and residence.
• Access and remains: Accessible on the island of Ven by ferry from the mainland, with a museum and marked archaeological remains at the site.

What to See#

• Uraniborg: The principal above-ground palace and observatory complex where astronomical observations, workshops and a printing press were housed for the late 16th-century research programme.
• Stjerneborg: A nearby underground observatory built to house more stable instruments and reduce wind effects, constructed as part of the same research estate.

Take a ferry from Landskrona to the island of Ven; the crossing is short (the ferry runs frequently in the tourist season). Once on Ven, Uraniborg’s site is a short bicycle or walk ride from the ferry landing - bicycles are commonly rented near the ferry terminal and the ride to the historical sites typically takes 10-20 minutes.

• Travel to the island of Ven in the warmer months and check ferry timetables in advance (regular service from Landskrona) because sailings are seasonal and limited.
• Rent a bike on Ven and cycle to the Uraniborg archaeological site and Tycho Brahe museum; the island is small and cycling is the most efficient way to visit multiple sites in a day.
• Visit during weekday mornings or late afternoons to avoid day‑trip crowds and to have time for the museum displays and the reconstructed foundations at the Uraniborg site, which are closed or unattended outside museum hours.