The first lock on our journey.

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 on our journey.

The archipelago of St Anna and Södermanland.

Trosa has been a well-known town since the 14th century. 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.

Overnight stop at the old pilot station. Overnight stop.

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.

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.

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.

27 metres above sea level.

The railway line between Stockholm and Malmö crosses here.

With its seven interconnected locks, the Carl Johan lock stairway in Berg is the longest on the Canal. Overnight stop.

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 therefore not always open. Guided walk (about 3 km, partly hilly) to Vreta Cloister ruins and church. Or walk along the canal on your own.

Departure after having gone through 15 locks at Berg. Board again at the lock of “Heda”, left side.

We pass over the first of two aqueducts (built in 1970).

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 wellknown Göta Hotel (built in 1908), which we will visit. Walk together to the “Göta Hotel”. Coffee and waffles served.

73 metres above sea level.

Lock stairway of five locks. The song of the nightingale is often heard in this area.

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 Motormuseum, 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, 1-km walk (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 and also deepest lake (128 metres deep).

Mooring by the pier. 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.

Before we leave the boat there is singing and flowers from the Kindbom family, a religious group.

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. Visit a museum (short walk).

Through two narrow, wooded passages and small lakes with 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. Possibility to see osprey.

Manually operated lock. Now, we will be going downwards!

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.

The railway line between Stockholm and Göteborg crosses the canal here. Sweden’s smallest ferry, ”Lina”, 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. The boat berths for the night, close to the canal engineer’s house. Overnight stop.

Option to go for a walk. 50 min. walk to Lyrestad from “Godhögen” lock.

According to von Platen, Lyrestad was intended to become a major town. The old harbour storehouse was used for goods carried on the canal. Nowadays, it contains a museum run by the local homestead association. Visit the Homestead Museum.

At Sjötorp there is a set of eight locks. Option to walk along the canal.

44 metres above sea level. Sweden’s largest lake. Lake Vänern is the third largest lake in Europe, after the Ladoga and Onega lakes in Russia.

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.

Overnight stop.

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.

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.

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.

Our cruise ends at Packhuskajen 10, near the spectacular Opera House and the Maritime Centre in Göteborg.