Motala

Motala is a medium-sized municipality half way between Stockholm and Gothenburg. The municipality is situated in the western part of Östergötland by the Göta Canal outlet into Sweden’s second largest lake, Lake Vättern. Motala ström (Motala Stream) and Lake Boren are two other large water courses within the municipality. Motala’s waterfront is 50 kilometres long and offers many beautiful places for living and recreation.

The municipality has an area of 1,284 square kilometres. Each square kilometre takes 43 residents. 42,000 people live in the municipality of which approx. 30,000 people live in Motala and 2,700 in Borensberg. In other districts, Tjällmo, Fornåsa, Nykyrka, Fågelsta, Österstad, Klockrike and Godegård, there are about 200-500 residents.

Beautiful scenery
Those who are looking for beautiful scenery are well rewarded in the municipality of Motala. The plains in the south meet large woods in the north. Here you can find orchid marshes rich in limestone, leafy oak forests, sighing mushroom woods and, last but not least, a variety of lakes and water courses.
As a tourist there is a wide range of different activities that you can try out. You can go by boat on the Göta Canal, climb high radio masts, go kayaking, take different guided tours or visit museums.

History
The area has a long history. Already in the Stone Age people chose to settle down in the area which today is called Motala. Several findings have been made in archaeological excavations in the area, notably where Motala Ström flows out from Lake Vättern.
Motala town was founded when the canal contractor Baltzar von Platen placed the main office of the canal company in Motala in 1822. He drew the fan-shaped town plan and made sure that the cradle of Swedish industrialism was placed in the town. Today, his memory is kept alive by the statue “Visionärens Vinkelben”, which you can see in the center of Motala bay.