Borensberg on the Göta Canal - locks and delicacies

Borensberg is a cosy little town on the Göta Canal, where you can see one of the canal's two hand-operated locks. Here you can also cycle, shop for delicacies in farm shops and ... crowd a lot of motorhomes.

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Borensberg

The small town of Borensberg makes its living from trade, industry and tourism. Both the Motala Stream and the Göta Canal run through the town, and even though we were here on a rainy day, there was a holiday feeling with tourists, cafes, boats and, as I said, a lot of motorhomes.

Borensberg is located in Motala municipality in Östergötland. The town is located about 18 kilometres east of Motala, right next to Lake Boren.

On the way to Borensberg - Brunneby Musteri

On the way to Borensberg we stopped at Brunneby musteri, which is about 4 kilometres southeast of Borensberg. Here is a large farm shop that sells fruit drinks and marmalades, but also lots of other delicacies such as spices, mustard, cheeses and pasta sauces. Next to the farm shop is the restaurant Bettina, and you can rent a kayak if you wish.

We didn't plan to buy anything, but it went I couldn't resist. To top it all off, we were hungry when we went in there, which of course is a bit "dangerous". In the picture you can see what was brought back to the motorhome ...

Brunneby Farm and Brunneby Farm Church are also located at the muster centre. It is believed that the church was built in 1270 and expanded in the 15th century. In 1830, the church ceased to be a parish church and was converted into a granary. The church was renovated and restored as a place of worship in the 1970s. A very cute little church with a tall and beautiful tower!

Borensberg - by Motala stream and Göta canal

Then we arrived in Borensberg! If you have seen the first film about the Göta Canal, you may recognise some of the locations here. Many scenes were filmed at the Göta Hotel, and the actors and film crew stayed there during the filming.

Whether you recognise it or not, you will quickly notice the two streams, which you are constantly crossing in one direction or another. Motala ström is a river, or large stream, that flows from Vättern to the Baltic Sea. Through Borensberg it runs more or less parallel to the Göta Canal.

The Göta Canal is a bit narrower, and this is of course where you can see all the locks. Both waters were fantastically mirrored when we were here, despite the rain constantly hanging in the air.

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

Borensberg lock

Borensberg has one of the Göta Canal's two hand-operated locks. In other words, being a lock keeper is a physical job, and you who lock (or watch) are very welcome to help crank.

Börslycke farm shop

If you want to buy something good to take with you, take a look at the Börslycke farm shop. They sell things like toffee, marmalade and crispbread, small-scale and without additives. We felt that we had finished shopping for the day, but otherwise you could find nice gifts here!

Coffee shop car park

Where did we park our motorhome? There is a large parking space at Kaffeteriet in the centre of Borensberg, which also has a café and miniature golf. We went here first, but even though it was only around 12 o'clock in the day, it was packed. At least we thought so. About 10 motorhomes were spinning around at the same time as us, looking for places, and most of them turned around.

Later we discovered that the caravan park continues a long way along the canal (and the motorhomes are very nice there), so maybe we missed a spot. But even these were gone a few hours later.

Glasbruket - café, hostel and caravan site

It was not only the site at the Kaffeteriet that was full. A campsite nearby had put up a sign saying "fully booked". Fortunately, there is another site in Borensberg, at Glasbrukets vandrarhem. The road out there is narrow and winding, so we called first. Yes, they had a few places left. Not any with electricity though (which we really needed), but we still accepted a place to stay. Wow, how hard it is to find vacancies, especially with electricity, during this trip!

Glasbruket is a charming hostel and garden café, beautifully situated on a narrow spit of land between the Motala stream and the Göta Canal. Here we paid 185 SEK/day for a place without electricity, including toilet and showers.

In Peter's drone photo, you can see exactly where we were standing. It's really beautiful and peaceful out here. If you have a bike, it's not far to get to the centre of Borensberg.

More to see in the neighbourhood

In Kungs Norrby, not far from Borensberg, there is one of the Göta Canal's two aqueducts. A short distance west of Borensberg is the Motala and the Varamon lake shore. To the east you will find Berg's locks, with the longest lock staircase in the Göta Canal, as well as the the pleasant city of Linköping where we have 13 great tips . And don't miss the great Vadstena and Alvastra monastery ruins!

Have you been to Borensberg?

Have you been to Borensberg? And by the way, have you seen the classic film "Göta Canal or Who pulled the plug?"?

Facts about Borensberg

Municipality: Motala
County: County of Östergötland
Former name: Husby spring
Population: 3100 (2019)
Attractions: One of the Göta Canal's two hand-operated locks.
Activities: Bike hire, mini-golf at the cafeteria and more.
Parking spaces: Motorhome parking at Kaffeteriet and at Glasbruket.
Camping: Borensäng camping and Strandbadets camping.
Hotels and hostels: Göta hotel, Glasbrukets vandrarhem and others.
Read more: You can find more information at gotakanal.se

History of Borensberg

Husbyfjöl: The older name for Borensberg is Husbyfjöl. The name was changed in the early 1900s.
1649: The pub in Husbyfjöl is included on a map of pubs and inns along the roads in Östergötland.

18th to 19th century

1797: The magnificent multi-arched stone bridge crossing the stream dates from this period.
1825: The Göta Canal was opened at Borensberg, when the Vättern - Roxen section became operational.
1872: From this period there is a gazebo of cultural and historical value, which has been depicted on a postage stamp.

20th to 21st century

1907: Borensberg got a railway connection.
1908: The Göta Hotel, famous from the world of cinema, was built this year.
1940: A watchmaking school was started by the Swedish Watchmakers' Association. The school was then expanded to include optician training, which was later moved to Stockholm.
2013: The watchmaking school moved to Motala and became a vocational college.

Find your way to Borensberg

Car: Borensberg is located at the eastern end of Lake Boren. Take road 34 northwards from Linköping, or road 34 eastwards from Motala. Turn off at the Borensberg junction.

All our top tips about Sweden! Click on the image

READ MORE: Campsites and pitches in Östergötland
READ MORE: Things to do in Östergötland - sights and experiences

Helena

17 July 2020 6:00

Sweden

Motorhome holidays Sweden, Östergötland, attraction

Helena

Administrator

22 Comments

Add yours →

Minette says:

Interesting and fun to read! I had no idea that there is a hand-operated lock in Borensberg, yet I have spent some time in Borensberg (my grandmother lived there when she was alive). How "home blind" one can become. Will continue to follow your Göta Kanal journey, as I learn new things.

17 July 2020 - 6:12

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Nice place your grandmother lived in! And fun that you want to follow our journey! 🙂
  
  17 July 2020 - 6:35
  
  Reply
Mr Per-Åke says:

Hey, hey, hey, hey,
What wonderful pictures, you get the urge to go there but it may be too crowded there now.

17 July 2020 - 6:25

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  It is possible to come here now, but you have to come relatively early in the day to get a place. If you don't need electricity, it's a bit easier. The parking space at the cafeteria is large. At Glasbruket you can book a place if you want. Some places at Kaffeteriet can also be booked.
  
  17 July 2020 - 6:40
  
  Reply
Maria/ Magnolia Magis says:

We stood at the glassworks many years ago. Cool to wake up and look out at the boats. Cool road there too... we thought we were driving the wrong way! ? Glad you found Brunneby! And of course we have seen the films Göta Kanal!!! Many times!?. What fun with pictures from above! ?

17 July 2020 - 7:43

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, very nice at the Glassworks! And of course there is a different view from above! 😉
  
  18 July 2020 - 10:00
  
  Reply
Berit says:

Both travelled on the Göta Canal and watched the films. Especially remember the sequence where Anna - Lotta Larsson acts as a fortune teller. Probably thought the first film was better.

17 July 2020 - 8:42

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you also travelled the canal! Hopefully with a few less mishaps than in the film 😉.
  
  18 July 2020 - 10:01
  
  Reply
Ama de casa says:

I have been to Borensberg and have both good and bad memories of it.
Bad: In the spring of 1979 I drove Anders there, from where his UN service in Cyprus started. He would be away for six months - crying rivers!
Good: Six months later I picked him up at the same place. I cried a bit then too, but with joy 🙂 .
I don't remember Borensberg itself at all, but it looks super nice 🙂 .

And of course I have seen the film Göta Kanal! It was almost mandatory to see it when it came out 😀.

17 July 2020 - 9:42

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Wow, how hard with such a long service abroad! But you managed to do it, strong love so 🙂
  
  18 July 2020 - 10:02
  
  Reply
Ann-Louise Paulsson says:

So interesting to follow your journey along the Göta Canal. I don't think I have been to Borensberg but I have seen the film Göta Kanal a few times. And Borensberg looks very nice in your pictures!

17 July 2020 - 11:22

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Very nice little place! Glad you are following our journey 🙂
  
  18 July 2020 - 10:02
  
  Reply
Solan says:

Great pictures from the Channel! ?

17 July 2020 - 13:06

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Thank you very much! Very nice there! 🙂
  
  18 July 2020 - 10:02
  
  Reply
Matts Torebring says:

We love Borensberg, Brunneby boden and the restaurant at the lodge. Now we have not been there for a long time, we simply think the price is too high, for only 40 m2 of gravel to park on. We have looked for other free campsites...

17 July 2020 - 19:38

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Many places along the canal are a bit expensive to stay at we think, at least if there is no service. If there is electricity or the possibility to empty/fill tanks, we are happy to pay for it.
  
  18 July 2020 - 10:05
  
  Reply
BP says:

Absolutely fantastic pictures, especially the ones with the reflections in the water. So incredibly delicious! On Peter's drone picture, it is clear that you have absolutely no problem with social distancing;-)

17 July 2020 - 20:35

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  There we succeeded excellently with the distancing! 🙂
  
  18 July 2020 - 10:06
  
  Reply
Lena - good for the soul says:

I think that's where the boat trip went when we travelled along the Göta Canal. But I don't think we looked around there at all. We were picked up by bus. Looks nice.

Hug Lena

20 July 2020 - 5:37

Reply
Ms Pia Svensson says:

We were also in Borensberg the same day as you. We drove towards Motala but it was full there too in most places. Then we drove towards Vadstena instead. Have been there 6 years ago and there we managed to get a place. Fun to follow your journey. This week we have been on Öland but are home in Skåne now before we leave again.

27 July 2020 - 23:22

Reply
Magnus Schenström says:

Fantastic pictures from my dear Borensberg.
Great report from the place in my heart.
However, a small "factual error" has crept in, which was probably just a typo.
In 2013, the watchmaking school was moved to Motala.

08 September 2021 - 9:57

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Thank you, I'm glad to hear that the report and pictures were appreciated! And thanks for the eagle eye! Of course it should say watchmaking school. What a careless error! Thank you, so nice that you can correct 🙂 🙂
  
  08 September 2021 - 10:04
  
  Reply

Borensberg on the Göta Canal - locks and delicacies

Borensberg

On the way to Borensberg - Brunneby Musteri

Borensberg - by Motala stream and Göta canal

Borensberg lock

Börslycke farm shop

Coffee shop car park

Glasbruket - café, hostel and caravan site

More to see in the neighbourhood

Have you been to Borensberg?

Facts about Borensberg

History of Borensberg

18th to 19th century

20th to 21st century

Find your way to Borensberg

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22 Comments

Minette says:

Helena says:

Mr Per-Åke says:

Helena says:

Maria/ Magnolia Magis says:

Helena says:

Berit says:

Helena says:

Ama de casa says:

Helena says:

Ann-Louise Paulsson says:

Helena says:

Solan says:

Helena says:

Matts Torebring says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Lena - good for the soul says:

Ms Pia Svensson says:

Magnus Schenström says:

Helena says:

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