Göta canal
TRAVEL PERIOD: SUMMER
Duration:
3 Days – 2 Nights
summer
group
GÖTA CANAL
Join us on a journey through Swedish history! The Göta Canal is one of Sweden’s largest construction projects of all time and was built by 58,000 soldiers on the initiative of Baltzar von Platen.The canal was inaugurated in 1832, it is 190 kilometers long of which 87 kilometers of the canal is hand dug The Göta Canal runs from Sjötorp on Lake Vänern to Mem at the Baltic Sea.
Itinerary
- Day 1: Mauritzberg and Linköping After arriving in Stockholm, our journey in Sweden begins by driving south and after about an hour we arrive in the idyllic town of Trosa located in the Sörmland archipelago. Here you can take a walk along the canal, have a cup of coffee at one of the city’s cafes or visit one of Trosa’s art galleries. We then continue to Säter where we take the road ferry over to Skenäs and follow the shores of Bråviken towards Mauritzberg Castle. According to the history books, the castle was originally called Björsätter and was built in the 16th century by Birger Nilsson Grip, a descendant of Sweden’s greatest landowner of all time, Bo Jonsson Grip. He owned a third of all the land in Sweden and all of Finland which was then part of the Swedish Empire. Mauritzberg is now a hotel, conference and golf resort. Lunch is served in one of the castle’s beautiful halls, and during a tour of the grounds we hear about the castle’s fascinating history. We continue to the final destination of the day, Linköping. At the open-air museum Gamla Linköping, we can experience what life in a small Swedish town was like a hundred years ago. In the old neighborhoods are wooden houses, cobblestone alleys, historic gardens and several museums. We then check in at our hotel and gather for dinner.
- Day 2: Göta canal and Vadstena Today it is time to cruise on the Göta Canal. Our boat trip starts in Berg where we see the impressive Carl Johan lock staircase with 7 locks, Oscar’s double lock and Berg’s double lock. The boat takes us through a vibrant countryside with houses and mansions from the 18th and 19th centuries. We travel along avenues of stately deciduous trees and pass a total of nine locks, including Östergötland’s only hand-operated lock in Borensberg. During the tour we also get a very special experience when we pass over the aqueducts in Ljungsbro and Borensberg. After disembarking in Borensberg we continue by bus to Vadstena which was an important spiritual, cultural and economic center in the 14th century. We visit Vadstena Abbey Church and the Abbey Museum. The museum is located in the Royal Palace which was built in the 1260s but in the 14th century it was rebuilt and the feasts of the knightly era were transformed into the monastic life of St. Birgitta. After an exciting tour, it’s time to return to the hotel for dinner
- Day 3: Mariefred and departure We visit the idyllic town of Mariefred on the banks of Lake Mälaren. With its narrow alleys and charming 18th century houses, the town surrounds the majestic Gripsholm Castle which was built by Gustav Vasa and is filled with more than 400 years of history. We walk through fantastic halls and winding passages. After a good lunch, we move on to Taxinge Castle, which is known as the cookie castle. Here is Northern Europe’s largest cake buffet that attracts around 60 different types of pastries. Coffee and princess cake are served while we enjoy the beautiful surroundings. It’s now time to head back to Stockholm, but before we leave Sweden, we have time for a short visit to one of the Swedish capital’s scenic areas such as Haga Park or the World Heritage Site Skogskyrkogården..
Services included:
Accommodation
• 2 nights hotel accommodation
• 2 dinners
• 3 lunches
Excursions & Activities
• Guided tour Mauritzberg castle
• Visit at Gamla Linköping
• Göta canal cruise
• Guided tour Vadstena Abby
• Guided tour Gripsholm castle
• Coffee and cake at Taxinge castle