In Mariestad, the Göta Canal meets Lake Vänern. The town is also home to Gamla Stan, whose buildings bring the history of the town centre to life, particularly through structures dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. The old town is one of Sweden’s ten best-preserved town centres and offers a tangible introduction to Mariestad’s architectural history.
Houses and traces of time in Gamla Stan
A fold-out map of notable houses with information boards is available for exploring independently. It lets you discover the historic town centre through individual buildings rather than taking in its history only as an overview. With buildings dating predominantly from two centuries, Gamla Stan is an ideal starting point for exploring architecture and urban history together.
The cathedral, theatre and museum
Mariestad Cathedral was built between 1593 and 1625. Its spire reaches a height of 82 metres following restoration work carried out from 1903 to 1905. The church is open to visitors daily; check the church website in advance for possible seasonal changes. The carillon has 20 bells and plays different melodies four times a day, at 09:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 18:00. Check the playing times before your visit, as the schedule may change.
Mariestad Theatre also tells a story in several stages: the theatre building was constructed in 1842, opened in January 1843 and was not fully completed until 1848. It is considered one of Sweden’s oldest and best-preserved provincial theatres and has been a listed building since 1993. The programme includes children’s plays and concerts, with performances changing over time. The Nyårsrevy is staged every year in January. For specific dates, it’s worth checking the current programme.
The Vadsbo Museum is centrally located on the island of Marieholm in Mariestad. It occupies four wings of the former governor’s residence, two of which are open to the public. Using historical objects, the permanent exhibition traces Mariestad’s development from prehistoric times to the beginning of the 20th century. Another exhibition follows the town’s industrial development through to the present day. These exhibitions cover different historical periods: the town’s early history and the development of its industry.
Lake Vänern, the shore and walking trails
Mariestad has 14 Swedish miles of shoreline along Lake Vänern. From here, you can reach the lake’s 22,000 islands and skerries in your own boat. There is also a kayak rental at the guest harbour, and walking and cycling paths follow the shore from there to the Ekudden Nature Reserve. These options offer different ways to spend time by the water, from paddling to continuing along the shore on foot.
The Ekudden–Sandviken trail runs from central Mariestad along Lake Vänern, through the Gamla Ekudden and Sandviken nature reserves. The one-way route is 6 kilometres long and marked in orange. It is not suitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs or walkers. Gamla Ekudden is also of natural interest: the shallow shores at the mouth of the Tidan are an important resting place, especially for wading birds, while the old, gnarled oaks with broad crowns have very high natural value.
For longer walks, the Biosfärleden offers a different scale. The trail follows the southern shore of Lake Vänern between Läckö Castle and Mariestad, is 140 kilometres long and is divided into nine stages. It is suitable for both individual day hikes and longer continuous walks. The contrast with Ekudden–Sandviken is clear: a 6-kilometre one-way route compared with a trail divided into nine stages.
Cyclists will also find a longer route nearby: the Göta Canal Cycle Route is Sweden’s seventh national cycle route. It runs for 220 kilometres along the Göta Canal, from Sjötorp in the west to Mem in the east. Together with the meeting of the canal and Lake Vänern in Mariestad, it offers another way to experience the region through its waterways.
Discover more destinations: Lyrestad, Mariestad, Sjötorp, Ekby, Torsö, Lugnås, Ale, Sunnersberg.
See the overview of destinations in the wider region: Västra Götaland.
