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The first lock on our journey divides Saltsjön from Lake Mälaren.
0.3 metres above sea level. Sweden’s third largest lake.
Drottningholm Castle, the home of the Royal family since 1981, is on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites.
Södertälje lock, 135 metres long, is the largest lock in Scandinavia.
The archipelago of St Anna and Södermanland.
The small town of Trosa dates all the way back to the 14th century. It was then known as a fishermens’ village. Regular steamer traffic from Stockholm and Nyköping began in 1860, bringing large numbers of summer visitors. Enjoy a walk around the canals and alleys of Trosa (app. 2.5 km).
The ruins of the Stegeborg Castle are beautifully situated on a small island overlooking the bay of Slätbaken. The fort dates from the early Middle Ages and was built to guard the inlet to Söderköping.
On 26th September 1832, the Göta Canal was inaugurated at Mem amid great pomp and circumstance in the presence of King Karl XIV Johan and his family. We now go through the first of the 58 narrow locks on the Göta Canal.
The idyllic town Söderköping was founded in the early 1200s and was very important during the Hanseatic period. The town also has a long and very interesting history as a spa.
There are eight locks in the short distance of around two kilometres. Take the opportunity to stretch your legs between the locks.
27 metres above sea level.
Here the canal crosses the main railway line between Stockholm and Malmö.
33 metres above sea level.
The Carl-Johan lock staircase is the longest in the canal with seven connected locks.
The convent of Vreta dates from about 1100 and was the first nunnery in Sweden. Its importance was later superseded by the convent founded by Saint Bridget (St. Birgitta) at Vadstena. The old convent church at Vreta is one of Sweden’s most interesting, offering many medieval treasures. Today, it is used as a parish church and is therefore not always open to visitors. The tour guide will take us on a walk (app. 3 km) to see the church and the remains of the convent. As an alternative you can walk along the canal, or take a swim in Lake Roxen.
The ship has passed all 15 locks in the Berg lock system. It is time to board for departure.
We pass the first of two aqueducts in the canal. The Ljungsbro aqueduct was built in 1970.
The aqueduct at Kungs Norrby was built in 1993 as part of the national route 36.
At Borensberg there is a hand-operated lock. Shortly before the lock we pass a small gazebo leaning out over the canal in a sharp bend known as the "Helmsman’s Horror", and after that we see the well-known Göta Hotel, built in 1908.
73 metres above sea level.
Lock staircase of five locks where you might hear the nightingale sing.
It was Baltzar von Platen who drew up the plans for Motala, and today it is called "the Capital of the Göta Canal". In 1822 an engineering works, Motala Werkstad, was established here to serve the Göta Canal and is today considered to be the cradle of Swedish industry. Here you will also find the head office of the Gota Canal Company, responsible for operation and maintenance. We visit the Motor Museum, with its large exhibition of antique cars and motorcycles in authentic surroundings, collection of radios, toys, household appliances and more. You can also walk to see Baltzar von Platen’s grave, about 1 km along the left side of the canal. Overnight stop.
We leave Motala and head out into Lake Vättern.
89 metres above sea level. Sweden’s second largest lake.
We visit Karlsborg Fortress, initiated by Baltzar von Platen and built 1819-1909. The guided tour is a journey through time and space, full of surprises and special effects.
Forsvik has a very interesting industrial history. The lock, built in 1813, is the oldest one in the canal. The impressive iron bridge dates from the same year. In the lock we are sometimes greeted with songs and flowers by the Kindbom family, a religious group.
Through two narrow, wood-lined passages and small lakes full of water lilies, we steer out into Lake Viken.
The beautiful Lake Viken (91.8 metres above sea level) serves as a water reservoir for the western section of the Göta Canal.
At Tåtorp there is another hand-operated lock. From here on we will be going downwards!
An obelisk marks the highest point (91.5 metres above sea level) of the Göta Canal. This part of the canal is called the Berg Canal and originally had a sharp bend which was straightened in 1930-33.
The railway line between Stockholm and Gothenburg crosses the canal here. Töreboda also proudly presents Sweden’s smallest ferry, "Lina", which travels back and forth across the Göta Canal.
A lock system consisting of four locks. In 1822 the western section of the Göta Canal was inaugurated at Hajstorp. Here you can see the old home of the Canal Engineer. If you want to stretch your legs this is a good place, Hajstorp to Godhögen lock is app. 1.5 km.
All onboard!
At Sjötorp there is a set of eight locks, and also the remains of some old shipyards. We visit the old warehouse, where you can find a shop selling, among other things, clothes and home décor, a café and the Sjötorp Canal Museum. In the museum you can see old pictures of Sjötorp, the interiors of several old ships, a large collection of ships’ engines, etc. There is also a map of all the sunken ships in the Lake Vänern. It is also possible to take a walk along the locks.
44 metres above sea level. Sweden’s largest lake and the third largest lake in Europe, after the Ladoga and Onega lakes in Russia.
The Trollhättan Canal Museum is located in a storehouse from 1893. Learn more about the fascinating history of the Trollhätte Canal through the interesting exhibition and film shown here. You can also take a walk through the beautiful lock area.
The impressive lock staircase at Trollhättan consists of four locks, and has a total drop of 32 metres. Of the three parallel lock systems here, only the biggest one (from 1916) is still in use.
The lock at Lilla Edet, built in 1916, is the last lock on our journey. The original lock was opened in 1607 and was the first lock in Sweden.
Our cruise ends at Packhuskajen 10, near the spectacular Opera House and the Maritime Centre in Gothenburg.
Subject to changes. Note! All times stated are approximate.
The Classic Canal Cruise from Stockholm, click here to open the itinerary as a pdf-file >>
12 March M/S Juno in the Daily Telegraph Read more
19 September Article in the Sydney Morning Herald Read more
15 September Telford's Swedish Delight Read more
02 August Article in Mail on Sunday Read more
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