Köpmannebro and Upperud - the start of the Dalsland Canal

Köpmannebro lock station can be described as the gateway to the Dalsland Canal. This is the canal's first and largest lock. If you continue a bit further along the canal, you come to the locks at Upperud. Join us along the Dalsland Canal!

Köpmannebro lock station

The lock at Köpmannebro is the first in the Dalsland Canal. The canal leads from Lake Vänern to Lake Svanefjorden and on to Östervallsskog in Värmland.

Köpmannebro is located in Mellerud municipality in Västra Götaland County, on the western side of Lake Vänern.

Visiting Köpmannebro

Since we decided to follow the Dalsland Canal, we wanted to start in Köpmannebro. We made our way to the lock, which is not only the first in the Dalsland Canal but also the largest.

This lock has the same dimensions as the locks in the Göta Canal. However, the difference in level is only 0.1 metres. Watching the locking here was nice, but we have to say that it was tricky to park the motorhome.

Important meetings during the Second World War

Köpmannebro is a small town and there have never been any major industries here. It is possible to mention a small factory for the purification of turpentine that existed here in the early 1900s.

The town seems most famous for meetings that took place during the Second World War. The studio of bird conservator Kihlén was used for important meetings between the Norwegian resistance movement, the Norwegian government (then stationed in London) and the Norwegian delegation in Stockholm, with the aim of fighting the German occupation of Norway.

Upperud

We then continued to Upperud, where the second and third locks in the Dalsland Canal are located. There is also the relatively new venture Upperud 9:9, which is a luxury hiking centre with accommodation, a café and a restaurant. The Dalsland Art Museum is within walking distance.

The Upperud lock is located just south of Håverud, which is known for its special aqueduct.

Visiting the lock in Upperud

At the Upperud lock station, you lock from Lake Spången into Lake Upperudshöljen. There are two locks, one lower and one upper, and the difference in level is 5 metres.

Ironworks, paper mills ... and art

The first ironworks in Dalsland started in Upperud as early as 1647. There are several reminders of this time, such as a mansion dating back to the 18th century, as well as blacksmith's dwellings and an iron shed. The mansion was home to Arvid Posse and his wife, Princess Christine Egypta Bonaparte, Napoleon's niece.  

In the early 1840s, the ironworks was Dalsland's largest, but the economic situation changed and in 1871 they switched to producing paper pulp. The old mill is now used by the Dalsland Art Museum, which displays art and silversmithing.

Parking space for motorhomes

In Upperud there is also a caravan park for motorhomes. It looked nice and is located right next to a marina. As usual, we arrived too late to get a place, so we rolled on towards Håverud.

See more in the neighbourhood

Right in the neighbourhood of Köpmannebro and Upperud you will find Håverud with its famous aqueduct. From here it is also close to visit Dals Långed and Bengtsfors. Other destinations in the neighbourhood are Vänersborg, Trollhättan and Hamburgsund.

Have you been to Köpmannebro or Upperud?

Have you travelled on or along the Dalsland Canal? How was your experience?

Facts about Köpmannebro

• Municipality: Mellerud municipality
• County: Västra Götaland County
• Landscape: Dalsland
• Population: About 80 (2010)
• Read more: You can find more information at Western Sweden.

Facts about the lock in Köpmannebro

• Number of lock chambers: 1
• Level difference: 0,1 m
• Dimensions: 35.6 metres long, 7.1 metres wide and 3.2 metres deep.
• Time consumption: 10 min

History in Köpmannebro

• Early 20th century: AB Terpentin in Stocksund built a factory to purify turpentine. Billingsfors Bruk, among others, sold its raw turpentine for purification here.
• 1943: An important and secret meeting was held in bird conservationist Kihlén's former studio in Hökeliden, two kilometres south of Köpmannebro, between Milorg (Norwegian Resistance Movement), the Norwegian government in London and the Norwegian legation in Stockholm, to cooperate against the German occupation.

Facts about Upperud

• Upperud's use: Former ironworks in Skållerud parish in Mellerud municipality.
• Upperud 9.9: Modern hotel in the former mill environment.

Facts about the lock in Upperud 

• Number of lock chambers: 2
• Level difference: 5 m
• Time consumption: 20 min

History at Upperud Mill

• 1674: Councillor Paul Rokes was authorised to set up an ironworks with two bar iron hammers.
• 1695: They produced 1200 ship pounds of iron (about 130 tonnes). The pig iron came from Värmland, but when the Göta Canal opened, iron could also be brought in from Västmanland.
• 1812: The mill was expanded with a manufacturing plant.
• 1830: The first melt was made using the new method of hardening, known as the Lancashire process.
• 1840s: Upperud was the largest mill in Dalsland at the time, with a production of around 600 tonnes.
• 1871: The production of bar iron in Upperud ceased and the production of paper pulp began, partly because more and more people could read and the demand for books increased.