The winds of time

Mostly dug by hand between 1809-1832, the 190-km long canal is Sweden’s largest building project ever. Some 58 000 soldiers dug and removed around 300 000 cubic metres of stone and earth to create the three metre deep canal.

The project was conceived and led by Baltzar von Platen. His well-planned route and ingenious locks enabled him to harness the water surface and create a waterway over land. Unfortunately he died some two years before the canal was completed and thus never saw his amazing life’s work inaugurated.

When you are on board you are in superb company, sharing space with those raconteurs, royalty and millionaires who have travelled with us through the years. Read more about your travelling companions.