Vadstena is the second medieval city along the Göta Canal. It has a long and interesting history.

In 1384, the inauguration of the monastery of Vadstena, the Birgittiner Monastry.

Vadstena officially became a town in 1434.

In 1545, by order of King Gustav I Vasa, building began on Vadstena Castle. The work was completed in 1620. It did not take long, however, before the castle began falling into decay. During the period of a couple of hundred years, the castle was used as storehouses for seed and aquavit. After the harbour in Vadstena had been built, the castle storehouse was used in direct conection with canal traffic.

Restoration of Vadstena Castle began at the end of the 19th century. The storehouses in the castle were turned into space for archives and records. The castle is currently the home for the Vastena County Records Office, which holds the Göta Canal archives.

The building of the Göta Canal brought great expections when it came to its importance to the Vadstena region and its industry and trade. This was manifested in the engagment in the special Göta Canal debentures, which would finance the building of the Göta Canal. Nowhere along the canal, apart from the trade companies in Stockhom and Gothenburg, was the interest in the Göta Canal debentures so great as it was in the Vadstena area.

Aerial photo of Vadstena Castle and Vadstena Harbour.
Source: County Administrative Board in Östergötland, Cultural Environment Office.
Photo: Jan Norrman, the Swedish Central Board of Antiquities, 1991

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Red line = bicycle path.