Discover Ljungsbro: Nature, the Göta Canal and local history

For a trip to Ljungsbro, you can choose from a range of activities focused on nature, waterways and local history. The Motala ströms ravin nature reserve encompasses damp deciduous forest in an old riverbed, while the Göta Canal shapes several routes through and to Ljungsbro. There is also a museum featuring local life stories, as well as a brewery, cafés and Cloetta connections. This gives you a variety of specific starting points for planning your trip—from a stay surrounded by greenery to culture, food and drink.

Nature in the Motala ströms ravin nature reserve

Many rare and threatened species live in the Motala ströms ravin. These include birds, bats, butterflies, snails, mussels, mosses, lichens and fungi. This wide range makes the natural area interesting if you are keen to learn about more than just larger animals and are interested in other groups of species too. The landscape itself is characterised by damp deciduous forest in an old riverbed.

A 1.5 km hiking trail leads from the main entrance to the nature reserve to the reflecting pond at Jakobslund. This gives your visit a specific destination in addition to the habitat itself. When planning your time in Ljungsbro, you can treat this route as a nature-focused outing in its own right; the diversity of species, by contrast, describes the wider character of the area.

The Göta Canal: aqueduct, cycling and canoe routes

The Borensberg–Berg section of the Göta Canal Trail crosses the Ljungsbro Aqueduct. At this structure, the canal runs in a trough above the road below. The layout makes the construction easy to see: the waterway and the road are on different levels here.

The cycling and canoe routes offer different ways to explore the area. The fifth stage of the Göta Canal Cycle Route passes through Ljungsbro. The Göta Canal Canoe Route runs from Lake Boren near Borensberg through the canal to Malfors guest harbour in Ljungsbro. The difference is clear if you are choosing between routes: the cycling stage passes through the town, while the canoe route specifies a starting point at the lake and a destination at the guest harbour. This means you can include the canal in your trip either by cycling a stage that passes through Ljungsbro or by following the water route described here.

Museum and local history

Ljungsbro Museum presents several typical life stories from the period 1650 to 1920. They come from Ljung, Vreta kloster, Stjärnorp and the surrounding area. The museum was founded to preserve and pass on Östergötland’s rich cultural heritage. Together, the time period, places of origin and reason for its founding give a clear picture of the museum’s historical focus.

Ljungsbro Museum also has historical books, a shop and an outdoor café. Another aspect of local history is the Cloetta factory in Ljungsbro, built by the Cloetta brothers in 1901. The Cloetta shop in Ljungsbro stocks the full range of popular Cloetta products. The factory’s history and the shop’s product range are two distinct ways to explore Cloetta’s connection to the area.

Brewery, café and swimming

Vreta Klosters Bryggeri has a taproom serving food and drinks. The brewery also offers tours and beer tastings. Malfors Café is all about its location by the Göta Canal: it is right by the canal in the heart of Ljungsbro. Each offers a distinct experience—the brewery has tours and tastings, while the café is beside the water.

Swimming lessons for children of all ages are offered at the Ljungsbro leisure centre. If you would like to include a lesson in your trip plans, check the current schedule in advance.

Discover more destinations: Berg, Nykil, Linghem, Sturefors, Bestorp, Ulrika, Stjärnorp, Brokind.

For the wider travel overview: Linköping.