Motala between the Göta Canal, harbor and industrial heritage

Motala: Water, technology and paths through history

Motala combines the Göta Canal with industrial heritage, museums, historic sites and varied natural landscapes. The section of the Göta Canal located in Östergötland begins here. Depending on your interests, you can explore the canal by boat, bicycle or on foot. This makes Motala a versatile base for a trip that combines culture, activity and experiences on the water.

Motala Central is an important starting point for finding your way around the city: it is the hub for bus and rail services, and the railway station is also about a five-minute walk from the center of Motala. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Motala, you can therefore first consider whether convenient access to the center and public transport connections is important for your travel plans.

Discover the Göta Canal and industrial heritage

The Göta Canal exhibition From idea to reality is located in one of two pavilions beside the canal in the area of the Old Motala Workshop, between the Borenshult locks and Motala’s guest harbor on Lake Vättern. The exhibition explains how Baltzar von Platen realized the 300-year-old idea of a waterway through Sweden by constructing the Göta Canal. It also introduces the people involved and the technology used.

At the Borenshult locks, you can observe the lock operations. The locks connect the Göta Canal with Lake Boren. In the Gamla Motala Verkstad area, a walk among old cranes and red-painted buildings takes you through the industrial past. Historical stories about the area can be heard there via QR codes on Storyspot signs. Motala Verkstad began in 1822 as a repair workshop for the construction of the Göta Canal and developed into one of Sweden’s leading industries by the middle of the 19th century.

Vehicles, castle history and traces of the Stone Age

The Motala Motor Museum covers 2,400 m² in Motala’s harbor. It displays classic cars, motorcycles, mopeds and older technology. Many of the authentically designed settings in the museum are fully functional, bringing together various facets of earlier technology in the exhibition.

Charlottenborg Castle originally dates from the mid-17th century and acquired its present appearance at the beginning of the 19th century. The castle displays, among other things, wood carvings by Sophia Isberg from the mid-19th century. It is centrally located on Motala ström and Lake Hårtorpssjön, as well as along a popular walking route beside Motala ström. The region’s older history is also present: Motala is considered one of the most interesting places in Northern Europe for the Early Stone Age, and the oldest remains at Kanaljorden are 11,000 years old.

Hiking, cycling and water at Varamobaden

Motala offers a choice of different landscapes for active days. You can hike by the water, through wetlands or in the forest. The Naturkartan guide for Motala Municipality includes hiking trails, nature reserves, places of interest, tips for cycling tours, barbecue areas, as well as trail descriptions and maps. This allows you to tailor your travel plans to your preferred combination of walks, cycling tours and nature experiences.

Varamobaden offers water sports such as windsurfing, kitesurfing and stand-up paddleboarding, and is considered the largest freshwater bathing area in the Nordic region. Facilities in the area include a paved beach promenade, ramps to the sandy beach and a mat leading to the water. If you particularly want to include water activities when choosing a holiday apartment, you can therefore consider Varamobaden as one of your desired destinations.

The right base for your trip

The experiences described appeal to different planning styles: Motala Central and the city center are worth considering if bus and rail services play a role in finding your way around. The Göta Canal, Borenshult, the guest harbor and Gamla Motala Verkstad represent waterways and industrial heritage. If you want to focus on activity and nature, you can include hiking trails, forests and wetlands or cycling tours. Varamobaden adds water sports to this selection. When looking for accommodation, therefore compare above all which of these experiences should shape your trip.

For further orientation, you can also take a look at Åsbro, Olshammar, Mariedamm, Åmmeberg, Hammar, Zinkgruvan, Askersund and Aspabruk.

To the higher-level travel overview: Askersund.