Six-day cruise Stockholm – Gothenburg 2010
Two seas, one river, three canals, eight lakes and 66 locks!
Day 1
10.00 Departure from Stockholm, Skeppsbrokajen 103
10.30 Hammarby lock The first lock on our journey divides Saltsjön from Lake Mälaren.
10.40-13.30 Lake Mälaren 0.3 metres above sea level. Sweden’s third largest lake.
11.25 Drottningholm
Castle
Drottningholm Castle, the home of the Royal family since 1981, is on UNESCO’s list of World
Heritage sites.
13.30-13.40 Södertälje Södertälje lock, 135 metres long, is the largest lock in Scandinavia.
13.40- The Baltic The archipelago of St Anna and Södermanland.
17.00-18.30 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. We are taken on a guided walk around the canals
and alleys (app. 2,5 km).
20.00 Arr. Sävsundet We stop for the night at the old pilot station. If
the weather is nice, we might continue down to
Stegeborg. Overnight stop.
Day 2
04.00 Dep. Sävsundet
09.00-10.00 Stegeborg The ruins of the Stegeborg Fortress 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. We are given a guided tour through the interesting history of Stegeborg. The
walk is short, but somewhat uneven.
10.50 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 enter the Göta Canal through the
first of the 58 narrow locks.
12.15-14.45 Söderköping 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.
Söderköping is yours to explore on your own. Don’t forget to try the famous ice cream!
17.45-18.15 Lake Asplången 27 metres above sea level.
19.45 Norsholm lock Here the canal crosses the main railway line Stockholm – Malmö.
19.45-21.45 Lake Roxen 33 metres above sea level.
21.45 Berg (Carl-Johan) The Carl-Johan lock staircase is the longest in
the canal with seven connected locks. We dock
for the night at the bottom lock. Overnight stop.
Day 3
09.00 Dep. Berg (Carl-
Johan)
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importance was later superseded by the convent founded by Saint Bridget (St. Birgitta) at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. The tour guide will take us on a walk (app. 3 km, partly uneven) to see the church and
the remains of the convent. As an alternative you can walk along the canal or take a swim in the
warm water of Lake Roxen.
11.30 Berg (Heda) The ship has passed all 15 locks in the Berg lock system. It is time to board for departure.
11.50 Ljungsbro,
aqueduct
We pass the first of two aqueducts in the canal. The Ljungsbro aqueduct was built in 1970.
14.30 Kungs Norrby,
aqueduct
The aqueduct at Kungs Norrby was built in 1993 as part of the national route 36.
15.00-16.00 Borensberg At Borensberg you will see one of the
hand-operated locks still in use in the canal. We walk the
short distance to the well-known Göta Hotel, from 1908, where we are served coffe and waffles.
16.00-17.00 Lake Boren 73 metres above sea level.
17.00-17.40 Borenshult Lock staircase of five locks where you might hear the nightingale sing.
18.45 Arr. Motala It was Baltzar von Platen who drew up the plans for Motala, and today it is called “the Capital
of the Göta Canal”. In 1822 an engineering works, Motala Werkstad, was established here to
serve the Göta Canal and is today considered to be the cradle of Swedish industry. Here you
also find the head office of the Gota Canal Company, responsible for operation and
maintenance. We visit the Motor Museum, with its large exhibition of antique cars and
motorcycles in authentic surroundings, collection of radios, toys, household appliances and
more. You can also walk to see Baltzar von Platen’s grave, about 1 km along the left side of the
canal. Overnight stop.
Subject to changes. Please note! All times stated are approximate. 07-11-20
Day 4
07.30 Dep. Motala We leave Motala and head out into Lake Vättern.
09.00-12.30 Vadstena Today Vadstena is an idyllic little town. It
evolved around the 14th century convent of the Saint
Bridget (St. Birgitta), becoming a spiritual, cultural and commercial centre. The Abbey was
built according to St. Bridget’s plans, and was consecrated in 1430. The Castle was built in the
1540s by King Gustav Vasa. Local guides will meet us here and take us with the sightseeing
train to see the Abbey and the castle. You will also have time to walk around the town on your
own, or go for a swim in the lake.
07.15-14.45 Lake Vättern 89 metres above sea level. Sweden’s second largest lake.
14.45 Karlsborg Fortress We pass Karlsborg and will be able to see the
roof of the fortress, which was built in 1819-1909.
15.40-15.50 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 greeted with
songs and flowers by the Kindbom family, a religious group.
15.50-16.35 Billströmmen/
The Spetsnäs Canal
Through two narrow, wood-lined passages and small lakes full of water lilies, we steer out into
Lake Viken.
16.35-18.05 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.
18.05 Tåtorp At Tåtorp there is another hand-operated lock. From here on we will be going downwards!
18.35 The Berg Canal /
the Obelisk
An obelisk marks the highest point (91.5 metres above sea level) of the canal. This part of the
canal is called the Berg Canal and originally had a sharp bend which was straightened in 1930-
33. After dinner we will be entertained by a music group.
20.50 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.
21.50 Arr. Hajstorp A lock system consisting of four locks. In 1822 the western section of the Göta Canal was
inaugurated at Hajstorp. The ship berths for the night, close to what used to be the home of the
Canal Engineer. Overnight stop.
Day 5
06.00 Dep. Hajstorp If you are an “early bird” you can take a wonderful morning walk from Hajstorp to Godhögen,
app. 1,5 km.
09.30-11.45 Sjötorp At Sjötorp there is a set of eight locks, and also
the remains of some old shipyards. We visit the
old warehouse, where the Visitors’ Centre and the Sjötorp Canal Museum are located. Here you
can see old pictures of Sjötorp, the interiors of several old ships, a large collection of ships’
engines, etc. There is also a map of all the sunken ships in the Lake Vänern. It is also possible to
take a walk along the locks.
11.45- Lake Vänern 44 metres above sea level. Sweden’s largest lake and
the third largest lake in Europe, after the
Ladoga and Onega lakes in Russia.
15.30-17.45 Läckö Castle 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 a baroque castle in 1652. We are given a
guided tour of the castle and the exhibitions (lots of stairs). App. 1 km walk.
23.45 Arr. Trollhättan Rysskajen. Overnight stop.
Day 6
08.30-10.00
Trollhättan
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.
10.10-11.00 Trollhättan, locks The impressive lock staircase at
Trollhättan consists of four locks, and has a total drop of 32
metres. Of the three parallel lock systems here, only the biggest one (from 1916) is still in use.
12.00-12.15 Lilla Edet 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.
15.30 Arr. Gothenburg,
Packhuskajen 10
Our cruise ends at Packhuskajen 10, near the spectacular Opera House and the Maritime Centre
in Gothenburg. |
