Håverud is a village with around 120 inhabitants in the province of Dalsland. Even though it has such a small population, this is most likely the most visited destination for tourists in the area. It is especially the Dalsland Canal with its aqueduct that attracts visitors to this part of Sweden.
A Short History of Håverud
The construction of the Dalsland Canal began in the mid-19th century and it eventually included 31 locks at 17 stations. Håverud had since the 17th century had production of wrought iron and paper. It was the rapids that the manufacturing was requiring that also caused the biggest engineering problem for the canal, the locks were not enough to pass by the terrain.
The solution came in 1868 with the completion of an aqueduct. To add to the complexity the railway was built in 1925 and includes a bridge above the aqueduct and in 1938 a road bridge was also built above it.
The industries in Håverud survived until the 1970s and have since been replaced with restaurants, shops and, art galleries, and museums.
Things to Do and See in Håverud
You would think that with the canal and its aqueduct, there might be little else to mention. But as a matter of fact, there are actually a few more sights to explore while in Håverud.
Dalsland Canal
The canal with its locks and aqueduct is the main attraction here. In case you don’t travel by your own boat, you can either traverse the canal with the regular ferries, such as M/S Dalslandia, or you can settle with a walk along the canal. The walk will take you up along the locks, across the viaduct, and to the lake Åklång at the end of the passage. It is a few hundred meters of walking and popular to do when the ferries leave, as you can walk along with them as they travel through the locks.
Dalsland Center
Next to the canal is Dalsland Center in one of the old industrial buildings. The center includes the tourist information point, guides, exhibitions, and space for events.
Canal Museum
The Canal Museum tells the story of the Dalsland Canal. In several exhibits, it tells about the area, its history, and the life of the people here in the past.
The Road Bridge
The road on which many visitors arrive has in itself one of the best views of the canal. There is parking next to the bridge crossing the ravine, from where it is possible to walk across the bridge. The view will include the aqueduct and the railway bridge. The railway bridge is actually opened manually to let the boats along the canal pass under it.
Ramslökedalen Nature Reserve
Ramslökedalen is a nature reserve right next to the Dalsland Canal. It was established in 20017 and covers around 9 hectares. It’s named after the wild cowleek that grows here.
Lake Övre Upperudshöljen
This is the lake below the locks. It is suitable both for fishing and swimming. Remember that fishing requires a permit. For swimming, there is, however, a lack of official beaches.
Lake Åklång
Lake Åklång is located above the locks and on the other side of the aqueduct. Here it is possible to find a beach at Sundserud, not far from Håverud. Fishing is also possible but requires a permit.
How to Get to Håverud
- Flights: There are domestic and international routes to and from Göteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT), which is 168 kilometers away. Other options for mostly domestic flights are Karlstad Airport (KSD), 128 kilometers away, and Trollhättan–Vänersborg Airport (THN), 71 kilometers away.
- Car: Håverud is close to the E45 between Vänersborg and Åmål.
- Bus: Local and regional buses from Västtrafik connect Håverud with the surrounding region.
- Train: DVVJ has trains to and from Bengtsfors and Mellerud.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 431 kilometers (5h 9min)
- Gothenburg – 146 kilometers (2h 1min)
- Malmö – 419 kilometers (4h 51min)
- Linköping – 346 kilometers (4h 21min)
- Kiruna – 1499 kilometers (18h)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
