Swedish Västergötland road - FREEDOMtravel Themed roads

Svenska Västergötlandsvägen is a theme road that takes you through and around Västergötland, to experience our beautiful Swedish landscape and west coast. Travel on your own and at your own pace - by car, motorhome, caravan or motorbike.

Swedish Västergötlandsvägen

The Swedish Västergötland Road is a FREEDOMtravel Theme Road that runs from Vänersborg to the beautiful Läckö Castle. You can follow it from any direction you like, or pick your favourite part (your favourite spots) in the middle. This is an idea to make it easier for you to go on a little adventure. Happy travelling!

Svenska Västgötlandsvägen in co-operation with

Short facts about the Swedish Västgötlandsvägen

• Length: 617 km long
• Start: Vänersborg
• Stop: Läckö Castle

1. Vänersborg

Vänersborg is located in Västra Götaland County, at the southernmost end of Lake Vänern. In 1816, the last fatal officer's duel in Sweden took place in Lockerudsskogen outside Vänersborg and Sweden's first shoe factory was located here.

2. using street art

Bruket Street Art is a large area of graffiti and street art at the disused Wargön mill in Vänersborg. Opinions on this place can certainly differ, but regardless, the disused mill offers a very special environment.

3. Trollhättan

What can you do in Trollhättan as a tourist? We came here by motorhome right after our visit to Vänersborg because we decided to follow the Trollhätte Canal and the Göta River. Apart from planning to see the locks, we had no particular expectations, but Trollhättan really surprised us!

4. Lilla Edet on the Swedish Västergötland road

Lilla Edet is an urban area and the centre of Lilla Edet municipality, located south of Trollhättan and north of Gothenburg. The Trollhätte canal runs through Lilla Edet and here you will find cool street arts and one of Sweden's first locks.

5. Gothenburg

Gothenburg is Sweden's second largest urban centre, after Stockholm, and the fifth largest in the Nordic region. It is located on the west coast at the mouth of the Göta River. The city of Gothenburg was founded on the initiative of King Gustav II Adolf and received its city privileges in 1621.

6. Gunnebo Castle and Gardens

Gunnebo Castle and Gardens is located just south of Gothenburg and can be visited all year round. Here you will find a beautiful castle building, a beautiful park, lovely nature areas and a restaurant and café. If you pick the right day and book in advance, guided tours are also available.

7. Borås on the Swedish west coast road

 Borås is an exciting city that offers art experiences in the form of street art, sculptures, art museums and art festivals. There is also a textile museum, zoo, nature experiences and many other activities.

8. Ulricehamn swimming pool centre

Ulricehamn Kallbadhus offers relaxation for body and soul. You can take a refreshing dip in the beautiful Lake Asunden - every day, all year round - 06.00-22.00. Afterwards, you can warm up in the sauna if you need to.

9. Habo Church

Habo Church and Bottnaryd Church are two fantastically beautiful wooden churches in Västergötland and Småland respectively. Both churches are from the 17th century and both are richly decorated with fantastic paintings. These churches are well worth a visit, whether you are interested in church history or not.

10. Hökensås fishing camp

First Camp Hökensås - Tidaholm is a campsite for those who like fishing and outdoor life. Here you can fish in a wide range of beautiful lakes or, if you prefer, hike, mountain bike or pick berries and mushrooms.

11. Brandtorp Local History Society

What a nice homestead by Lake Vättern! We have visited Brandstorp's local history association, which was surprisingly interesting and nice. This homestead offers nice houses and well-kept museums, as well as a café and a charming "shop from the past".

12. Hjo on Svenska Västergötlandsvägen

Hjo is the centre of Hjo Municipality in Västra Götaland County and has 6,357 inhabitants. Hjo is located on the western shore of Lake Vättern in Guldkroken in Västergötland. The name was written in 1327 Hyo and comes from the river Hjoån. The meaning of the river name is 'the unclear, murky'. Here you will find an idyllic town with Sweden's longest bench along the seafront.

13. Karlsborg Fortress

Karlsborg Fortress was supposed to be built in 10 years, but it took 90 years to complete. When the fortress was finally completed in 1909, it was already outdated. Today, the fortress is used for military training - and you can also visit the fortress as a tourist.

14. Forsvik on the Swedish Västergötland road

Forsvik is a small town in Västergötland that is known for two things in particular: the oldest lock on the Göta Canal and Forsvik's ironworks. The lock is the highest in the canal and there is an interesting industrial museum at the mill.

15. Tiveden National Park

Tiveden National Park offers wonderful nature experiences in wild forests with dramatically large boulders. There are many hiking trails, but also fine beaches and opportunities for barbecues.

TIPS: Wassbacken camping and cabins

Wassbackens camping in Töreboda has a fantastic location by the Göta Canal. The canal runs right next to the campsite and you can park your motorhome so that you have a view of the boats chugging by or driving into the guest harbour. If you want, you can cycle to the lock in Tåtorp.

16. Töreboda

Töreboda is a small town in Västergötland, located along the Göta Canal. Here you will find, among other things, Sweden's smallest regular ferry. The municipality also includes Hajstorp, where you can see the locks in two fine double locks.

17. Sjötorp on Svenska Västergötlandsvägen

Sjötorp is located on Lake Vänern and is where the Göta Canal begins or ends, depending on the direction of travel. Here you can look at locks, buy fish and enjoy ice cream. 

18. mariestad

Mariestad is a historic town, once founded by Gustav Vasa's son Duke Charles (later King Charles IX). There is a legend that visitors to the duke saw a bull rising from the river Tidan, and today it is that bull that can be seen on the town's coat of arms and elsewhere.

TIPS: Vallevägen

One of the most beautiful roads in Sweden is called Vallevägen and is marked with a big orange V that you follow. You start in Timmersdala past Lerdala, Öglunda to Varnhem. See map at the top.

19. Varnhem Abbey church and ruin

Varnhem in Västergötland is home to Varnhem Abbey Church and the ruins of Varnhem Abbey, which was founded in 1150. As well as being exceptionally beautiful, the church is packed with Swedish history.

Tip: Hornborgarsjön Nature Centre

Naturum Hornborgarsjön is located less than 9 kilometres southwest of Varnhem. The bird lake is of course best known for the cranes that come in the spring, but there are also many other bird species here. The Naturum has fine exhibitions about the cranes, bird life and the history of wildlife conservation.

TIPS: Squirrel Falls

Soon afterwards we found the more famous Ekornavallen, located on the road between Varnhem and Falköping, about 15 km north of Falköping. On a large open field there is a long row of graves from different eras. The oldest are from around 33oo BC and the youngest from the Viking Age, around 800-1050 AD. It is fascinating that people buried their dead here, over a period of 4000 (!) years.

20. Gudhem Monastery

Located in Västergötland, Gudhem Abbey ruins tell the story of one of Sweden's first monasteries. You may also recognise the monastery in Gudhem from Jan Guillou's stories about Arn, where it plays an important role.

21. Skara sommarland

Skara Sommarland is a summer park north of Axvall, 8 kilometres east of Skara. Founded by Bert Karlsson, it is one of the largest amusement parks in the Nordic region with around 300,000 guests annually.

22. Lidköping on the Swedish Västergötland road

Lidköping is an urban centre in Västergötland Lidköping and because of the risk of confusion with Linköping, the municipality and the city usually calls itself Lidköping by Lake Vänern. The city is located south of the south-eastern part of Lake Vänern called Kinneviken.

23. Läckö Castle

With its spires and towers reflected in Lake Vänern, Läckö Castle feels almost like a castle in a storybook. In the 17th century, Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie designed the castle according to the baroque ideals of the time, and today visitors can travel back in time in their minds while strolling through the beautiful rooms.