More history along the Göta Canal

Klämman Lock
A Canal lock between Söderköping and Asplången, with the original gate control mechanism reinstated.

The Carl Johan lock stairway
With its seven interconnected locks, the Carl Johan lock stairway in Berg is the longest on the Canal. It raises or lowers the boats 18.8 metres between Lake Roxen and the Berg guest-harbour. All told there are eleven locks in Berg.

Skarpåsen
Skarpåsen, west of Ljungsbro, has an ingenious irrigation device dating from when the Canal was built. Take a look ­ visitors’ landing stage and BBQ site provided.

Borensberg Glassworks
The glassworks in Borensberg began its bottlemaking in 1900. The workers themselves took over production in 1932, and the works was run as a collective from then on until its closure in 1952. Today, the unique turn-of-the-century milieu is being re-created, and there is a youth hostel in one of the old houses.

Motala Verkstad
Motala Verkstad is commonly called "the cradle of Swedish manufacturing industry". It was founded in 1822 by Baltzar von Platen. There was a pressing need for a mechanical workshop to maintain the Canal. In the course of time, Motala Verkstad came to manufacture everything from bridges to boats and locomotives.

The Motala Canal Museum
This excitingly renovated museum contains the answers to pretty well any questions you care to ask about Canals. It includes a model lock for both children and grown-ups.

Karlsborg Fortress
Berth at the stone pier of the fortress for some thrilling adventure tours.

Forsviks Bruk
One of the oldest rural manufactories (bruk) in Sweden, with a history going back to medieval times. Forsvik also boasts the oldest lock on the Göta Canal and the oldest iron bridge in Sweden.

The Kiddösund Wall
This 600-metre warping wall was constructed out in the middle of Lake Viken. It was built to enable the crews of sailing vessels to warp their boats past awkward spots.

The Lanthöjden Obelisk
This seven-metre-high obelisk, erected in the 1820s, marks the highest point of the Göta Canal, 91.5 metres asl.

The Old Vassbacken Post Office
This is where the Canal joined up with the old high road. The Post Office, first opened in 1830, has now taken on a new lease of life as a museum. Vassbacken also has a visitors’ marina, café and camping site.

The Norrkvarn History Trail (Norrkvarns Kulturstig)
Many of the regiments cutting the western part of the Canal were encamped here, to the east of Lyrestad. Norrkvarn today offers an exciting exhibition and a History Trail of great natural beauty.

The Lyrestad Warehouse
The Warehouse was built by the Göta Canal Company in 1823 using timber from surplus buildings that had seen service in the construction of the Canal. The Museum is open daily during ten weeks in summer. One of its exhibits is a shop dating from the turn of the century.

Sjötorp Museum
Linger for a while in Sjötorp, where the big attraction is the museum specialising in a comprehensive display of boat engines.