Berg by the Göta Canal: Locks, Art and Cycling Routes

Seven interconnected locks define a visit to Berg: Carl Johans slusstrappa raises or lowers boats by 18.8 metres between Lake Roxen and Berg's guest harbour. Berg's locks comprise the flight of locks and two double locks. Visitors can watch boats pass through the flight. Several canal cruises depart from Berg every day for nearby islands and places. This offers a choice between enjoying the view of the locks and taking a trip on the canal as two different ways to experience the area.

Locks, Art and History

Carl Johans slusstrappa was built between 1815 and 1818. Permanent art installations are part of the cultural experience along the Göta Canal; in Berg, Dubbelgångaren stands on a pier in Lake Roxen below the flight of locks. The sculpture is made of rusty iron and stands almost nine metres tall. It adds a distinctive artistic accent beside the lock complex.

Vreta Abbey Church offers a different historical connection: the medieval church was built in the 12th century. The ruins of Vreta Abbey lie beside it, at the entrance to Berg's locks. The flight of locks and the church thus represent different eras—from medieval church construction to the building of the locks between 1815 and 1818.

The Water at Lake Roxen

Bergsbaden is a bathing spot on Lake Roxen. The two guest harbours can also be distinguished by their locations and capacity: the lower guest harbour in Berg on Lake Roxen has 10 guest berths; the harbour in the lock area has 40. Getting your bearings by the water therefore includes not only the bathing spot but also two harbour areas with different numbers of guest berths.

Cycling and Seasonal Activities

Cyclists can orient themselves in Berg using two sections of the Göta Canal Cycle Route. The fifth stage runs between Berg and Borensberg. Along this section, the cycle route follows a gravel towpath closed to motor traffic. The sixth stage, by contrast, begins or ends at Berg's locks.

The one-way trip by canal boat between Berg and Borensberg takes about 3.5 hours. This makes it possible to compare different ways of getting around: a cycling route along a gravel towpath or a one-way trip on the water. The stage information also helps distinguish the route between Berg and Borensberg from Berg's locks as a starting or finishing point.

Bicycles can be rented at Berg's locks through the tourist information office at Kaffeteriet; check availability in advance. Seasonal activities also include two outdoor shuffleboard courts available on a drop-in basis.

Berg as a Place to Stay

If you are looking for a hotel in Berg, you can choose your focus based on your plans for the day: the locks and a canal trip, cycling, cultural history or the bathing spot on Lake Roxen. These different highlights give you concrete points of reference for considering Berg as a destination for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Roxenbaden, Ulrika, Stjärnorp, Bergsslussar, Linghem, Vikingstad, Kögenäs, Nykil

Return to the main travel overview: Linköping.