ÅlesundThe Jugend Town of Norway
Alesund, or in Norwegian writing Ålesund, or earlier Aalesund, is both a municipality and a city, located in Norway. After a huge fire in 1904, making about 850 buildings in the city to ashes, the town was rebuilded in an amazing Jugendstyle architecture. In 1838 Ålesund was established as a municipality, and received its city rights in 1848. The municipality has a population of 41,385 (2007).
The coat-of-arms was in use from 1898, and symbolize the importance of fishing for the city. The type of ship was typical for the ships used in the 18th and 19th century, and then the waves and fish were added to the drawing in the arms.
If you ever visit Ålesund, you must make a visit to the amazing view point of Aksla mountain in the town. Entering with bus, you drive this very narrow road up in the hills, where the forest hides most of the view, until it opens like a widescreen picture,showing a fantastic view over the town and the surrounding area.The little restaurant on the top, the Fjellstua, offers a spectaculare view from the coffe tables, and you can sit there for hours just watching.
The Steep streets
The photo shows one of the charming, steep streets, and you get an impression of the building style that gives the town its identity.
A Canal Restaurant
A floating restaurant in Brosundet is a popular stop on a warm summer day.
The Jugend Style
The buildings in Alesund has many ornaments and are mostly in very good and authentic condition. This one is in the typical Jugend architecture.
The Mountain Restaurant
Back in the town you can see the viewpoint and restaurant Fjellstua up in the mountain.
Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten MS Kong Harald, is about to depart from the Hurtigruten daily visit. Hurtigruten is calling Ålesund both on its way north to Kirkenes, and on its way back to Bergen.Passenger ships docking in Ålesund arrange walking tours in the city area, and also bus and ferry tours to nearby islands and fjords. The Norwegian Coastal Express, or Hurtigruten in Norwegian language, is one of the many opportunities to see Ålesund.In the summertime a very popular tour is to the small village of Geiranger, at the end of the Geirangerfjord, one of the most spectacular fjords of Norway, even in the whole world. You can also follow the ship on a beautiful cruise along the fjord to Geiranger, where you enter a bus which takes you on an adventure-trip along the most spectacular roads in Norway.
A City Lighthouse
A small lighthouse is protecting the ships during night and stormy weather. Quite typical in any coastal environment, but maybe not so common in a town.
Ålesund has "sister-town" relations to Randers in Denmark since 1947, Vesteras in Sweden since 1947, Lahti in Finland since 1947, Akureyri in Iceland since 1949, Borgo a Mozzano in Italy since 1979, Tacoma in USA since 1986, Peterhead in Scotland since 1967 and Münster in Germany since 2003. Weather Forecast from yr.noFind yourself a nice hotel and stay in Ålesund for a couple of nights.We recommend the You can change language on this hotel site if you want to. From Alesund to other Towns and Places
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From Fjellstua you get an exiting overview of the town and see the narrow canals that divides it. One of them is the Brosundet, where the buildings makes the waterfront.
