Göta and Trollhättan canals

Things you must know about Göta canal:

  • Most important popular attraction of Sweden, nicknamed the "millenary building of Sweden" (!!)
  • 190 km long, built between 1810 and 1832 by 58,000 Swedish soldiers controlled by Baltazar Von Platzen

Before entering the canal you must read carefully the instructions on https://www.gotakanal.se/en/, and understand how to comply with the navigation rulesin the canal. The "user manual" for the locks is quite particular but easy to understand.

There are two possibilities to go through the canal:

  • a five day itinerary from Mem to Motala at the start of the season,
  • or slowly, throughout the season

It is so beautiful and so full of treasures that you should consider at least a full month! With Cybèle 17, we took eight weeks! Remenber that the price for all the trip includes (2015) all the the locks and bridges, and 5 days in each of the 21 guest harbours , not included the free stopovers in the middle of nowhere!

You can also rent a boat or take part to some trips on tourists boats.

Here is the "cut" of the GötaKanal
Filling the lock...

The technique for going up is always the same, and must be understood by both the helmsman and the crew

  • the lock is filled by the front,and not by the bottom. it means that the current is very strong. A spring for the stern is fixed after passing under a cleat and will not move. A spring for the front comes from the quay, passes through a block on the bow, then to a winch before the hand of the helmsman. That rope will be adjusted when the boat will rise. A lot of fenders both sides: sometimes you will be 2 in a row, but also sometimes the boat will move on each side!
  • the crew jumps the very little pontoon at the entry of the lock with the 2 ropes, fixes the front one then the other.He or she stays on the quay until the lift and opening upstream.Then jump to the boat.And next lock, the same, 28 times...
  • For Trollhatte Canal, only 1 rope is used, in the middle of the boat, but very long and in double, to avoid to be obliged to jump a very big ladder when the lock is emptied.