Lilla Edet: Locks, history and trails
Accommodation in Lilla Edet
Lilla Edet combines lock history with hiking trails and cultural attractions. You can shape your stay around your interest in boating, local history or outdoor activities: the area’s attractions range from a 17th-century lock to several routes of varying lengths.
Locks and history along the Göta älv
The first lock in Lilla Edet was completed in 1607; the original lock is still preserved. At Ströms sluss, pleasure boats and canal vessels pass through the lock on the Göta älv. The difference in water level there is six metres. This brings together two tangible aspects of the town: its early lock history and the lock’s use by different types of boats.
Church, fire and working history
The present-day Fuxerna kyrka was built in 1769. The Ollonbergska gravkoret has been preserved in its cemetery and is now used as a mortuary chapel. If you want to plan your visit around a specific time, check the current service schedule.
The houses on Storgatan also tell the story of the effects of the 1888 fire, which destroyed large parts of Lilla Edet. Fridhemsstugan is one of two surviving workers’ houses from the period after the fire. The houses of Fridhemshusen were built for people who were severely affected by the fire and had lost their homes; they have been preserved on Storgatan. Visits to Fridhemsstugan can be arranged by phone with Ann-Britt Johansson at 076-017 24 32.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Storgatan was a busy shopping street. It runs from the banks of the Göta älv through the whole of Lilla Edet. Industry is also part of the town’s history: the story of Edet pappersbruk dates back to the 1880s. Lilla Edet had an extensive sawmill industry for at least three centuries, which was later converted into a paper industry.
Hiking trails and outdoor activities
The Prässebergsleden is 2.9 kilometres long and offers viewpoints over the Göta älv valley. The Götaleden runs along the elevated mountain areas east of Lilla Edet and is about five kilometres long. The stated distances make it easy to compare the two routes; the Pilgrimsleden Göta älv also passes through Lilla Edet, though no length is given here.
In Högstorp, there are illuminated loop trails of 2,200 and 1,000 metres. Lighting is seasonal. The two loops therefore differ considerably in their stated lengths, and the season affects whether they are illuminated.
Ströms slottspark is close to the Göta älv and borders Lilla Edet vänthamn. The park has a varied disc golf course, two outdoor fitness areas, and the activity trails “Bollkul” and “Puls och styrka”. This gives you several different ways to be active in one place, from disc golf to fitness and activity trails.
Culture and practical information
Kulturhuset Eden hosts cultural events in the centre of Lilla Edet. The building houses a library, a cultural school and a cinema run by Folkets Hus. Tickets can be purchased at the entrance. Another way to discover local culture is to join the beer tastings at Lilla Edet Bryggeri, where visitors learn about the brewing process and can sample beers.
For local transport planning, it is useful to know that Västtrafik’s demand-responsive local service serves the bus station and centre of Lilla Edet. Check the latest travel details before setting off. Lilla Edet and Ström have an extensive network of cycle paths. You can cycle between Lödöse Södra station and Lilla Edet on a cycle path, except for a 1.3-kilometre stretch along a minor road. As route conditions can change, it is worth checking before your trip.
North of the lock is an unmanned waiting harbour where boats can moor around the clock. Check the harbour facilities before departure. Depending on your interests, you can combine local history, trails and practical planning considerations in Lilla Edet.
Discover more destinations: Prässebo, Göta, Nygård, Lödöse.
Go to the main travel overview: Lilla Edet.
