The Classic GÖTa Canal Cruise, 4 Days Stockholm – Gothenburg Tour

1 Stockholm The Classic Canal Cruise starts or ends in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. The ships are docked at Skeppsbrokajen 103, Gamla Stan. 2 Hammarby Lock The Hammarby lock in Stockholm connects Lake Mälaren with the Baltic Sea. This is the first or the final lock on the journey. 3 Lake Mälaren 0.3 meters above sea level. In the Viking age, Sweden's third largest lake wasn't a lake, it was a part of the Baltic Sea. Here boats could sail far into Sweden to reach the many cities around the coastline making Mälaren a very important fairway and trading route. Around 1200 the mouth of Mälaren had become so shallow that boats had to be dragged over it to pass. It was about the same time that Sweden's capital Stockholm was founded on that very spot. In Lake Mälaren there are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Drottningholm Palace where the King and Queen of Sweden lives and Birka, the Viking City. 4 Drottningholm Palace Drottningholm Palace, home of the Royal family since 1981, is also found on the World Heritage list. We pass the palace if time admits. 5 Sädertalje Sädertalje lock, 135 meters long, is the largest lock in Scandinavia. 6 The Baltic Sea Between Mem at the outlet of Göta Canal and Södertalje we cross open water for a short bit and then weave through the archipelago. 7 Trosa 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. At the Classic Canal Cruise from Stockholm you will be able to enjoy a walk around the canals and alleys of Trosa (approx. 2.5 km).

1 Stegeborg 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. 2 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 canal. 3 Söderköping Lock 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. 4 Carlsborg-Mariehov-Duvkullen There are eight locks in the short distance of around two kilometers. Take the opportunity to stretch your legs between the locks. 5 Lake Asplången 27 meters above sea level 6 Norsholms lock Here the canal crosses the main railway line between Stockholm and Malmö. 7 Lake Roxen 33 meters above sea level. 8 Berg, Carl-Johan The Carl Johan lock staircase is the longest in the canal with seven connected locks. The lock staircase will lower the boat 18.8 meters from the Berg guest harbor to Lake Roxen. Here we board the ship again before steering out on the lake. 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. 9 Berg (Heda) The ship has passed all 15 locks in the Berg lock system. It is time to board for departure. 10 Ljungsbro, aqueduct We pass the first of two aqueducts in the canal. The Ljungsbro aqueduct was built in 1970. 11 Kungs Norrby, aqueduct The aqueduct at Kungs Norrby was built in 1993 as part of the national route 36. 12 Borensberg In the idyllic village 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. 13 Lake Boren Our boat slowly traverses Lake Boren, 73 meters above sea level. The Locks Of Berg The locks of Berg are located north of the city of Linkoping. The whole lock system consists of no less than 15 locks, connected with Lake Roxen. The whole Berg lock system is called "The Big Lift". The locks can raise or lower ships 28.8 meters. At the Mini Canal Cruise we dock for the night in the harbour basin between the locks of Oscar and Carl-Johan. The evening offers the possibility to take a walk along the canal, or to go for an evening swim in Lake Roxen below the Carl-Johan lock staircase. 9 Convent of Vreta 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 (Saint 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. On the Classic Canal Cruise and the Grand Sweden Cruise you have the option of joining the tour guide on a walk (app. 3 km) to the ruins of the convent of Vreta and to the church. As an alternative you can walk along the canal on your own or take a swim in Lake Roxen. 10 Ljungsbro Aqueduct At Ljungsbro we pass one of the two aqueducts on our journey. This one was built in 1970. The canal crosses over the road so you can look down on the cars while you pass. On the Great Canal Cruise from Soderkoping we stop overnight at Ljungsbro. 11 Kungs Norrby, Aqueduct The aqueduct at Kungs Norrby was built in 1993 and leads over the national route 36. 12 Borensberg At Borensberg there is a hand operated lock. The well-known Gota Hotel, built in 1908, is close to the lock. 13 Lake Boren Our boat slowly traverses Lake Boren (73 metres above sea level). 14 Borenshult The lock staircase at Borenshult is the second longest in the canal, with five locks connected and a total rise of 15.3 meters. Here you might hear the nightingale sing. 15 Arrive Motala It was Baltzar von Platen who drew up the plans for Motala, and today it is called “the Capital Subject to changes. Please note! All times stated are approximate. In 1822 an engineering works, Motala Werkstad, was established here to serve the canal and is today considered to be the cradle of Swedish industry. Here you also find the head office of the Göta Canal Company, responsible for operation and maintenance. You can walk to see Baltzar von Platen’s grave, about 1km along the left side of the canal. Overnight stop.

1 Depart Motala We leave Motala and head out into Lake Vättern. 2 Lake Vättern With a length of 135 km and a width of 31 km, Lake Vättern is Sweden’s second largest lake, 89 meteres above sea level. The lake is unusually deep and its water is very clear. 2 Karlsborg fortress We visit Karlsborg Fortress, initiated by Baltzar von Platen and built 1819 -1909. Here you can enjoy an interesting guided tour of the fortress and the beautiful Garrison Church. 3 Forsvik 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. From here on we will be going downwards! 4 Billströmmen/the Spetsnäs Canal Through two narrow, wood-lined passages and small lakes full of water lilies, we steer out into Lake Viken. 5 Lake Viken The beautiful Lake Viken (91.8 meters above sea level) serves as a water reservoir for the western section of the Göta Canal. 6 Tåtorp At Tåtorp there is another hand-operated lock. From here on we will be going downwards! 7 The Berg Canal This part of the canal is called the Berg Canal and originally had a sharp bend which was straightened in 1930-33. 8 The Obelisk An obelisk marks the highest point (91.5 meters above sea level) of the Göta Canal. 9 Töreboda 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. 10 Hajstorp At Hajstorp there is a lock system consisting of four locks in beautiful surroundings. 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. 11 Sjötorp 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, and also learn more about the building of the canal. There is also a map of all the sunken ships in the Lake Vänern. Enjoy a lovely walk along the locks. 12 Lake Vänern 44 meteres above sea level. Lake Vänern is Sweden’s largest lake and the third largest lake in Europe, after the Ladoga and Onega lakes in Russia.

1 Trollhöttan 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 old lock area. The impressive lock staircase at Trollhättan consists of four locks, and has a total drop of 32 meters. Of the three parallel lock systems here, only the biggest one (from 1916) is still in use. 2 Lilla Edet Stroms lock at Lilla Edet was built in 1916 and is located by the River Göta. The original lock was opened in 1607 and was the first lock in Sweden. 3 Arrive Gothenburg Our cruise ends at Packhuskajen 10, near the spectacular Opera House and the Maritime Centre in Gothenburg.