Bergs locks - Göta Canal's mighty lock staircase

The Berg locks in the Göta Canal include a total of 11 locks, and it's really fascinating to watch the boats make their way up and down the steep lock stairs. The Berg locks also have a café, restaurants, mini-golf and a caravan park.

Table of contents

Berg's locks

The Berg locks are perhaps the most interesting lock area along the entire Göta Canal. The canal has a total of 58 locks and 11 of them are located in one place, in Berg. It is not surprising that many people choose to come here when they want to watch the locks. There is also an artificial basin, which supplies water to the lock staircase and also serves as a guest harbour.

Bergs locks are located in Berg, one kilometre northwest of Linköping. Lake Roxen is close by.

On the road from Söderköping: Locks in a hurry

We are travelling along the canal by motorhome, and on the way we also stopped at Brådtom lock. This lock is located east of Norsholm, at the other end of Lake Roxen. Brådtom is a small farm with a café, cabins and a caravan park. Charming little place!

Bergs locks - lock stairs and two double locks

Then we arrived at the "main attraction" - Berg's locks. There is a lock staircase with 7 interconnected locks and also two double locks. Together there are 11 locks that bit by bit bring the boats up from, or down to, Lake Roxen.

The lock stairs have a height difference of 18.9 metres and the two double locks have a height difference of 4.9 and 5.5 metres respectively. In other words, it's a steep journey for the boats!

We stood and watched a bunch of locks, and we have to say that it is fascinating to see the locks open and close, fill with water, empty with water and gradually move the boats up and down.

For the most part, things are calm and quiet. There are guys and girls ashore to help, and the crews are probably experienced after all the locking back and forth. We have seen one incident so far, but it was not here but at another lock. A dog fell in when it tried to jump ashore, and slipped down between the boat and the edge of the lock. There was a lot of concern, but the dog was wearing a life jacket and the owners managed to fish it out with a long boat hook. Everything ended happily.

Boat trips

If you don't have your own boat to lock up, you can join a passenger boat. This summer, several organisers have cancelled due to COVID-19, which means there are fewer tours than usual. But at least Wasa Lejon runs regularly between Berg and Borensberg. It was really fascinating to watch this big boat make its way up the two double locks.

Brunnby lock

Brunnby is a double lock above the Berg locks on the way to Borensberg. The lock is the narrowest and shortest lock on the canal; 34.85 metres long and 7.18 metres wide, and why is that?

It is said that the builder of the lock did not get along with Baltzar von Platen and therefore chose to mess with him by building a slightly smaller lock, thus limiting the size of the ships that can travel on the canal. This is how it can be done.

Cafés and mini-golf

Many tourists are attracted to watch the boats at the Berg locks. At the locks there are hostels, restaurants, cafés, ice cream parlours and a nice miniature golf course. It is also possible to rent bicycles.

Sculpture at the mountain locks

There is a sculpture trail along the Göta Canal, which includes eight sculptures. We have seen 'Outpost' in Meme and "Rabbit Crossing" in Söderköping, and now it was time to see "Doppelganger" by Kent Karlsson, from 2006.

Skulptur vid Bergs slussar - Dubbelgångare

READ MORE: Holidays in Sweden - your guide to Sweden's best destinations
READ MORE: Things to do in Östergötland - sights and experiences

RV park at Bergs locks

There is a large car park right next to Berg's locks, and the two innermost rows (on grass) are used as a caravan park. You pay (185 SEK/day) in the small café by the mini-golf course.

The price includes a service centre with toilets and showers, rubbish collection, toilet emptying and the possibility of filling fresh water via a hose. You can deposit 100 SEK for a card for the service centre, and you get this money back when you leave the card on departure. It worked well to stand here, we thought!

Ljungsbro - Cloetta and aqueduct

We also visited Ljungsbro, which is 5 minutes from Berg's locks by car. Here is, among other things, Cloetta's factory, with associated shop. We were not alone there, so to speak!

Really fun to look around among all the nostalgic sweets from childhood. Today we do not eat so much candy, but we bought a bunch of biscuit chocolate. It's always good for extra energy when things are tight!

In Ljungsbro we also checked out the aqueduct, where the boats go on a bridge above the cars. Fascinating! And what luck we had, just when we arrived at the aqueduct, the Wasa Lion came by!

More to see in the neighbourhood

Vreta Monastery, with a monastery ruin and abbey church, is located in Berg. We can definitely recommend a visit here! Relatively close by you will also find nice Borensberg, and Linköping and Motalawhere there is plenty to see and do. Even more tips can be found below.

Have you been to the Bergs locks?

Have you been to the Bergs locks? If so, have you been here by boat, car, campervan or bike? How was your experience?

Facts about Berg's locks

Location: Mountain
Municipality: Linköping
County: County of Östergötland
Number of locks: 11 (Lock staircase with 7 interconnected locks and 2 double locks)
Names of locks: Carl Johan's Locks (the lock staircase), Oscar's Lock (the first double lock after the lock staircase) and Berg's Lock (the topmost double lock), christened Karl Ludvig Eugen's Lock. Together, the locks can also be referred to as 'The Great Lift'.
Drop height: Carl Johan Locks: 18.9 metres, Oscar Lock: 4.9 metres and Berg Lock: 5.5 metres.
Opening hours: The canal is open to boats in summer (4 May - 30 September 2020), but the site can be visited all year round.
Cruise ships: M/S Wasa Lejon goes to Borensberg and then back to Bergs locks. Check with the tourist office for possible additional cruise options.
Activities: Boat trips, and bike hire at the cafeteria.
Attractions: The 11 locks, the artwork "Doppelganger" and the lock sports exhibition, with five old lock gates displayed on land.
Tourist information: Oscars slussar 2, Vreta kloster
Read more: You can find more information at Visit Linköping

Finding the Bergs Locks

Car: Berg is located on the western side of Lake Roxen. If you come on the E4 motorway, take the exit towards Berg between Tift and Mörtlösa, at the height of Linköping.

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Helena

16 July 2020 6:00

Sweden

Motorhome holidays Sweden, Östergötland, attraction, experiences in Europe

Helena

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27 Comments

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Anki says:

Yes, we've been there many times ... it's sort of on the road when I go to Linköping ... but I haven't spent the night there with the motorhome.
Brådtom lock ... I have been there a lot. My eldest son's best friend from pre-school age onwards lived there - his father was a lock keeper. There was no café and no accommodation, but there was a huge strawberry field, lots of asparagus and lots of berry bushes and fruit trees. I have many nice memories of the idyll that was then 🙂 We lived at that time at Melby, out by the E4 and cycled or walked to Brådtom almost every day, before the son became so big that we let him cycle himself.

16 July 2020 - 6:51

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Oh then this is really home turf! Fun to hear about how it was in Brådtom in the past!
  
  16 July 2020 - 12:17
  
  Reply
Madeleine Krans - First Morning says:

We were there the weekend that was! Rented bikes in Berg's locks and cycled to Borensberg where we slept one night. Very nice and easy cycling!

16 July 2020 - 8:19

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  That sounds nice! 🙂
  
  16 July 2020 - 12:17
  
  Reply
Kenneth Risberg says:

Stayed in Berg once in the motorhome and also cycled there from Borensberg where I stood with the motorhome and once more with my grandchildren who were given the task of counting the number of locks.
Ljungsbro and Cloetta is popular to visit, have done it several times during/after my visits to the office (12 years) in Linköping. There is also a Cloetta shop in Old Linköping, if you want to visit there.

16 July 2020 - 8:55

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Good task to count the locks! There are a bunch of them 🙂 .
  
  16 July 2020 - 17:55
  
  Reply
Ama de casa says:

No, I have not been to Berg's locks, but I have seen many locks in France and England. On the longest trip when we rented a canal boat for 10 days, we passed 100 locks. Fascinating buildings that can be manoeuvred in a variety of ways.

Now I got the urge to go on a canal boat again, and I also got extremely hungry for biscuit chocolate! 😀

Thank you for a lovely and tempting post 🙂 .

16 July 2020 - 10:00

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  100 locks, oh yes, then you become experienced! 🙂
  
  16 July 2020 - 17:56
  
  Reply
Maria /Magnolia Magis says:

Yes, we have been here... You can spend a long time at the locks. It is meditative in some way. We travelled here by motorhome but we have also travelled by passenger boat on the Göta Canal. Then I can recommend a book to have with you because it takes time! But it is beautiful in our Göta kingdom. ?

16 July 2020 - 10:43

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, you are "sucked" towards the locks, and "stuck" in standing and watching, I have noticed 🙂 .
  
  16 July 2020 - 17:57
  
  Reply
Elisabeth says:

Bergs locks belong to the home area. We have been there many times, sometimes with guests, but we have never spent the night there, but at the next stop Borensberg / Husbyfjöl.

16 July 2020 - 11:36

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Borensberg will be our next post about! Had to google Husbyfjöl 😉.
  
  16 July 2020 - 17:58
  
  Reply
JoY says:

Berg's locks are fun to see when there are so many locks.
Nice picture from above of the locks.

16 July 2020 - 11:38

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Fun with drones sometimes 🙂
  
  16 July 2020 - 17:59
  
  Reply
Husis blog says:

Nice pictures from above. Such a different experience with drone images.
In Berg my predecessor was with the owners and they particularly remember all the locks and the hill where they stood. There were blocks on one side and thus a very high entrance.
Of course, they also visited the Cloetta store.
All the best and drive carefully.

16 July 2020 - 12:28

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad that the drone pictures are appreciated! Certainly it becomes a completely different perspective on things! 🙂
  
  16 July 2020 - 18:00
  
  Reply
bmlarstravellingblog says:

We also visited Berg on our first motorhome trip in 2011. Back then we hardly knew what a caravan park was!
The lock staircase is really impressive so maybe it's time for a return visit there too!

16 July 2020 - 12:35

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you were here then! Much you do not know in the beginning 😉 .
  
  16 July 2020 - 18:00
  
  Reply
Ditte says:

Yeah! We have been here a few times. And to lock here with your own boat is a true experience. Yes, the entire Göta Canal by boat is. Memorable Now you are close and can see and experience the canal from land. If you don't join a tour.
There are many experiences along the canal. We lived in our boat so that made it easy. And another time it was a canal boat and then the accommodation was also included.
Stay well

16 July 2020 - 14:55

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Travelling with and staying on a boat or canal boat must be cosy! 🙂
  
  16 July 2020 - 18:01
  
  Reply
Goatfish says:

I have NOT been to Berg's locks, but understand that it must be an attraction with so many. in one place (but I have been to Berg and Åby locks in Småland 😀 ).
Yes, I have been to several other locks along the Göta Canal. Very interesting to look at.
Have a good time!

16 July 2020 - 16:53

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  You seem to have seen a lot of locks anyway 🙂 .
  
  16 July 2020 - 18:02
  
  Reply
BP says:

That lock staircase in Berg is impressive, but I still wouldn't want to do the lockage on a boat. By the way, the drone image of the lock staircase is magnificent:-)

16 July 2020 - 21:35

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Lena - good for the soul says:

Yes, I've been there. Stayed at a campsite nearby. Can it have been called type Sandvik, or something similar maybe. Very nice place in any case. I liked that campsite very much. Then it was a trip along the canal via locks, with a large passenger boat. It was thirty degrees centigrade so the workers were working hard and sweating. It was a really nice day and excursion, I remember.

Hug Lena

17 July 2020 - 6:45

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Anonymous says:

Juno, Diana and Wilhelm Tham do not make day trips between Berg and Borensberg. They go between Gothenburg and Stockholm.
Wilhelm Tham makes three-day tours of Norsholm and Mariestad and two-day tours on the Östgöta section.

17 July 2020 - 9:54

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Thanks for your comment! I downloaded the information here: visitlinkoping.se/upptäck/göta-kanal-bergs-slussar But I'll delete so nothing gets wrong.
  
  17 July 2020 - 11:20
  
  Reply
Katiesaway says:

Wow this looks like such an amazing place to visit! I hope we can make it here next summer!

05 November 2020 - 11:17

Reply

Bergs locks - Göta Canal's mighty lock staircase

Berg's locks

On the road from Söderköping: Locks in a hurry

Bergs locks - lock stairs and two double locks

Boat trips

Brunnby lock

Cafés and mini-golf

Sculpture at the mountain locks

RV park at Bergs locks

Ljungsbro - Cloetta and aqueduct

More to see in the neighbourhood

Have you been to the Bergs locks?

Facts about Berg's locks

Finding the Bergs Locks

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27 Comments

Anki says:

Helena says:

Madeleine Krans - First Morning says:

Helena says:

Kenneth Risberg says:

Helena says:

Ama de casa says:

Helena says:

Maria /Magnolia Magis says:

Helena says:

Elisabeth says:

Helena says:

JoY says:

Helena says:

Husis blog says:

Helena says:

bmlarstravellingblog says:

Helena says:

Ditte says:

Helena says:

Goatfish says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Lena - good for the soul says:

Anonymous says:

Helena says:

Katiesaway says:

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