Project Pilgrim Trail Trollhättan - Vänersborg

The Pilgrim Trail Trollhättan - Vänersborg project provides an opportunity to deepen the hiking and pilgrimage concept through a concerted effort and concept development and, through a strong connection between rural and urban areas, take advantage of the synergy effects that this creates.

The investment is essential for the development of Göta Älv's continued progression, collaboration and exposure as a sustainable trail in cooperation with a number of actors within the hiking and pilgrimage concept along Göta Älv. Through these efforts, a development will take place throughout the Göta älv Valley from Gothenburg in the south to Vänersborg in the north. The trail aims to become an important link to Norway and Trondheim, for which the work is ongoing in 2020-2023.

To get more people to experience the unique proximity between city and countryside that Trollhättan and Vänersborg offer, hiking packages will be developed, as well as signage of the trail and construction of shelters and food areas to make it easier for hikers.

The purpose of the Pilgrim Trail Trollhättan Vänersborg project is to increase the accessibility to and value of nature experiences with hiking as a starting point. There is a need to increase the attractiveness of all places, including Trollhättan/Vänersborg and its surroundings. There are many puzzle pieces that together create a great attractiveness and experiences with nature and hiking are considered to be a very interesting puzzle piece. There are few cities that can offer nature and hiking experiences with a city center as a starting point.

Trollhättan/Vänersborg has good prerequisites to develop attractive offers at flowing waters and lakes as well as Sweden's largest inland sea as a starting point. The reason why we want to develop and test this concept is based on the fact that hotels and tourist agencies believe in the concept. It feels innovative and our international guests get to experience an adventure within walking distance from the city center.

One advantage of the project is that the prerequisites for developing and testing the most important actors are already positive. In addition to hotels, Visit Trollhättan Vänersborg, hiking associations in Trollhättan and Vänersborg are also involved in the project. We are also working with Turistrådet Väst, the Swedish Church and Pilgrimsleden Göta Älv. We have a purpose to be able to connect the Pilgrims Trail along Göta Älv further to Dalsland. Together with Turistrådet väst, we have conducted a digital analysis of accommodation facilities in Trollhättan to be able to have export-ready hotels and hostels.