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Below is a selection of sights and adventures along
the canal. Be aware that the program can vary
somewhat depending on the tour length and your
direction of travel.
Göteborg - Sweden's largest port
Your tour will either begin or end at the
Packhuskajen Quay in central Göteborg adjoining port
magazines, regular shipping and the Maritime Centre.
While here you can enjoy the scent of the salty sea,
listen to the screeching gulls and study the city's
peerless opera house from the water.
Trollhätte Canal Museum
This superb institution in the city of Trollhättan
uses words and pictures to describe the history of
the Trollhätte Canal. The museum is housed in a
store-house built in 1893. A picture-lovely walk
lets you study the old locks and the modern ones,
the latter capable of accepting boats up to 88
meters long.
Älgens Berg - the Royal Hunting Museum
Moose or Elk Mount lies on Hunneberg and near to
Halleberg, both legendary mountains at the southern
tip of the inland sea Vänern. The museum provides
information about the moose, king of the forests, in
a building constructed ecologically using timber
from the immediate area. Its very size and timbers
create a singular atmosphere.
Läckö Castle
The old Episcopal seat Läckö was built in 1298 on a
promontory on Lake Vänern. The castle was rebuilt in
Baroque style during the 1600s. After standing empty
for 150 years, the castle is now undergoing a new
renaissance including a rich cultural life and
efforts to return the edifice to its former glory.
Vadstena - Home to St. Birgitta
The city grew up in the 1300s around the Vadstena
Cloister in a lovely location on the shore of Lake
Vättern. The cloister church was consecrated in 1430
after being built according to the saint's specific
instructions. King Gustav Vasa built the palace that
stands today in the 1540s. The city is an idyllic
town with cobbled streets and low wooden houses.
Motala - the heart of the canal
The creator of the canal, Baltzar von Platen,
founded Motala Werkstad in 1822, thus starting
Swedish industrialism. While here you can visit his
grave or take a tour through the Motala Motor Museum
- a historical document created by enthusiasts and
filled with old cars, mopeds and motorcycles in
historical settings.
The Locks at Berg - a water stairway
It takes eleven locks to lower the boat in a slow,
dignified pace to Lake Roxen. While walking the boat
down the lock stairway is an unforgettable
experience, those wishing to stretch their legs have
time to visit the Vreta Monastery or to take a swim
in the lake itself.
Söderköping
During the Hansa period, this was one of Sweden's
most important cities. Here the canal flows past the
foot of the Ramunderberget Mountain through the
centre of town. The cafes and ice cream stands along
the canal make this the natural place for holiday
walks and boat people passing through.
Stegeborg Castle
The fortification is documented as early as the
1200s and served for several centuries as a vital
part of the defense of Söderköping. In the
surrounding water contain unique Viking pole
barriers.
Enjoy historic punch in Trosa
The summer idyll "at the end of the world" is
mentioned in the 1300s. In this wondrous setting you
can enjoy a sweet, savory punch traceable to the
society life that flourished at this seaside resort
during the late1800s. Manufacture of a "Superfine
Old Arrac Punch" began and continued until 1917. It
is this punch that forms the basis for today's
recipe.
The Birka Viking City on Björkö Island
A complete picture of one of Sweden’s first cities
grows apace. After having served as a living and
trading community for more than 250 years, it was
abandoned some 1 000 years ago. Today Birka is a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Stockholm - landing in the midst of our lovely
capital
Arriving or leaving this Venice of the north by boat
seems wholly right. There are few cities in the
world that offer the same folk life and lovely views
from on deck. Should you begin your trip on the
Skeppsbrokajen Quay, this is where you'll meet your
fellow passengers. If this is your destination,
you'll exchange addresses and say goodbyes after an
unforgettable journey together.
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