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ITINERARY
Stockholm -
Göteborg, 6-days
Day 1
10.00 Departure from Stockholm, Skeppsbrokajen 103.
10.30 Hammarby lock
The first lock on our journey.
10.40-13.30 Lake Mälaren. 0.3 meters above sea level. Sweden’s third
largest lake.
11.25 Drottningholm Castle
Drottningholm Castle, the home of the Royal family since 1981, is on
UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites.
13.30-13.40 Södertälje
Södertälje lock, 135 meters long, is the largest lock on our journey.
13.40 The Baltic
The archipelago of St Anna and Södermanland.
17.00 - 19.00 Trosa
Trosa has been a well-known town since the 14th century. It was then known
as a fishermen's village. It was
moved to its present
site in 1610. Regular steamer traffic from
Stockholm and Nyköping began in 1860, bringing
large numbers of
summer visitors. Some of the local fishermen’s
picturesque red houses have been rebuilt into
attractive homes
with carved wood decoration and beautiful
verandas. Guided walk (about 2.5 km).
Swimming is an option.
20.30 Arr. Sävsundet
Overnight stop at the old pilot station. Overnight stop.
Day 2
04.15 Dep. Sävsundet
09.00-10.30 Stegeborg
The ruins of the Stegeborg Castle are in a lovely natural setting
overlooking Slätbaken bay. The fort dates from
the
early Middle Ages
and was built to guard the entrance to
Söderköping. Guided tour of the garden and
ruins of
Stegeborg. Hilly
country.
11.20 Mem
On 26th Sept. 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.
12.45-14.45 Söderköping
Söderköping is an idyllic town, which was founded in the 13th century and
it was most important during the Hansa
period. The
town also has a long and fascinating history as
a spa. Time at your own disposal in Söderköping.
Walk
4.3 km from town to the lock Carlsborg övre.
17.45 - 18.15 Lake Asplången. 27 meters above sea level.
19.45 Norsholm Lock
The railway line between Stockholm and Malmö crosses here.
19.45 - 21.45 Lake Roxen 33 meters above sea level.
21.45 Berg (Carl-Johan)
With its seven interconnected locks, the Carl Johan lock stairway in Berg
is the longest on the Canal. Overnight stop.
Day 3
09.00 Dep. Berg (Carl-Johan)
The convent of Vreta Kloster, now a ruin, was the first to be built in
Sweden. It dates from about 1100 and its
importance was
later over-shadowed by the convent founded by
St. Birgitta in Vadstena. The church is one of
the
most interesting in
Sweden, with many medieval works of art. Today,
it is used as a parish church and thereforenot
always open.
Guided walk (about 3 km, partly hilly) to Vreta
Cloister ruins and church. Or walk along the
canal on
your own.
11.30 Berg (Heda)
Departure after having gone through 15 locks at
Berg. Board again at the lock of “Heda”, left
side.
11.50 Ljungsbro Aqueduct
We pass over the first of two aqueducts (built
in 1970).
14.30 Kungs Norrby, Aqueduct
Just before Borensberg, there is an aqueduct
(built in 1993).
15.00-16.00 Borensberg
One of two manually operated locks is found here
and also the well-known Göta Hotel (built in
1908), which we will
visit. Walk together to the
“Göta Hotel”. Coffee and waffles served.
16.00-17.00 Lake Boren. 73 meters above sea
level.
17.00-17.40 Borenshult
Lock stairway of five locks. The song of the
nightingale is often heard in this area.
18.45 Arr. Motala
As Baltzar von Platen had intended, Motala
developed into a town. Motala Werkstad, an
engineering works, was
established here to serve
the Göta Canal and was considered the cradle of
Swedish industry. We visit Motala Motor
museum,
which has an exhibition of antique cars and
motorcycles in authentic surroundings, a
collection of radios,
toys, household appliances
and more. Visit a museum. Walk to von Platen’s
grave, 1km walk (left side of the canal).
Overnight stop.
Day 4
07.30 Dep. Motala
We leave Motala and head out into Lake Vättern.
09.00-11.30 Vadstena
Vadstena is an idyllic small town, which
is famous for St. Birgitta. It grew up around
the 14th century convent,
becoming a
spiritual, cultural and commercial centre. The
Abbey was built to the design of St. Birgitta
and was
consecrated in 1430.
The Castle was built in the 1540s by King Gustav
Vasa. Guided tour by a ”sight-seeing
train” to the Castle
and Abbey church. Swimming is possible.
07.30 - 13.45 Lake Vattern
89 meters above sea
level. Sweden’s second largest and also deepest
lake (128 meters deep)
13.45 - 15.45 Karlsborg Fortress
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.
16.30 - 16.40 Forsvik
Forsvik Bruk is one Sweden’s most
interesting industrial communities and its
history is six hundred years old. Today,
it is a well-known
museum of industrial history with various
exhibitions, a film show, and more. Forsvik also
has the
Göta Canal’s oldest
lock, built in 1813, and an impressive iron
bridge constructed in the same year. In the lock
you
are greeted with
songs and flowers from the Kindbom family, a
religious group.
16.40-17.25 Billströmmen / The Spetsnäs Canal
Through two narrow, wooded passages and small
lakes with water lilies, we steer out into Lake
Viken.
16.40-18.55 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. Possibility
to see osprey.
18.55 Tåtorp
Manually operated lock. Now, we will be going
downwards!
19.25 The Berg Canal / the Obelisk
An obelisk marks the highest point (91.5 metres
above sea level) of that part of the canal,
which was excavated. A
difficult bend was
straightened in 1933, the Berg Canal. A taste of
Swedish music in the evening.
21.40 Töreboda
The railway line between Stockholm and Göteborg
crosses the canal here. Sweden’s smallest ferry,
”Lina”, travels
back and forth across the Göta
Canal.
22.40 Arr. Hajstorp
A lock system consisting of four locks. In 1822
the western section of the Göta Canal was
inaugurated at Hajstorp.
The boat berths for the
night, close to the canal engineer’s house.
Overnight stop.
Day 5
06.30 Dep Hajstorp
If you are an early bird, you can tke a morning
walk from Hajstorp to Riksberg.
10.00-12.15 Sjotorp
12.15- Lake Vanern
44 meters above sea level, Vanern is Sweden's
largest lake and the third largest lake in
Europe after the Ladoga and
Onega lakes in Russia.At Sjötorp there is a set of eight locks,
and also the remains of some old shipyards. We
visit
the old warehouse, where the Visitors’
Centre and the Sjötorp Canal Museum are located.
Here 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.
15.45-18.15 Läckö Castle
The Castle was built in 1298 as a bishop’s
residence. Its golden age was during the reign
of Magnus Gabriel de la
Gardie, who transformed
it into baroque style in 1652. Guided tour of
the Castle (stairs). A walk of 2 km.
00.15 Arr. Trollhättan, Rysskajen
Overnight stop.
Day 6
08.45-10.00 Trollhättan
Trollhättan Canal Museum is located in a
storehouse from 1893. Here you can learn the
fascinating history of the
Trollhätte Canal
through e.g. some 50 boat models, underwater
tools from the 19th century, a blacksmith’s
workshop
and an old lock hut. Film show. Visit
the Canal Museum and walk to see the old locks.
10.10-11.00 Trollhättan, locks
The impressive flight of locks at Trollhättan
consists of four locks, covering a 32-metre
difference in water level.
There are three lock
systems and the biggest one (from 1916) is still
in use.
12.00-12.15 Lilla Edet
The lock at Lilla Edet, built in 1916, is the
last on our journey. The original lock was
opened in 1607 and was the
first lock in Sweden.
15.30 Arr. Göteborg, Packhuskajen 10
Our cruise ends at Packhuskajen 10, near the
spectacular Opera House and the Maritime Centre
in Göteborg.
Subject to changes. All times stated are
approximate.
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