Cruise the Swedish heartlands at leisure

 

Göta Canal

Photo: Lena Granefeldt/Bildhuset

Next year Göta Canal will celebrate its 175th anniversary. The canal was recently named Sweden´s construction accomplishment of the millenium, built between 1810 and 1832 under the leadership of the famous engineer Baltzar von Platen, employing some 58,000 soldiers as labourers. Göta Canal is 190 kilometres in length, passing through no less than 58 water locks, reaching a total elevation of 92 metres above sea level. All along the canal you’ll find an abundance of sights and attractions, lush, scenic vistas and many charming towns and villages, all embedded in a unique canal atmosphere. Many tourists negotiate the canal in their own vessels, but there are also a large number of tours with classic canal ships available, offering cozy scenic cruises with fine onboard accommodation and restaurants. Of course you can also choose shorter cruises between the many historically and culturally interesting sites along the shores. One of the most famous attractions on the canal is the chain of locks at Berg, with seven connected locks lifting the boats some 18 metres from Lake Roxen. You can rent boats, canoes and kayaks in many places along the canal. The old labour road along the canal is one of Sweden´s most popular bicycle routes, and there are also many attractive hiking trails along the way.

 

If you want to see the idyllic heartland of Sweden from a unique perspective, a voyage on Göta Canal is highly recommended!