Ålesund, Norway

Ålesund is a port town on the west coast of Norway located at the Borgundfjord. It was one of Norway´s biggest export harbours for stockfisk, fish preserved by air drying. It is also known for the art nouveau architectural style in which most of the town was rebuilt after a fire in 1904. The history of the fire and the reconstraction is documented in the Jugendstilsenteret museum.

Ålesund is known as the cultural capital of the province of Møre and Romsdal with around 67.000 inhabitants living on the islands of Aspøy, Nørvøy and Hessa which are connected trough bridges. The name comes from the narrow sea passage dividing Aspøy and Nørvøy which in norwegian is reffered to as a "sund".

From the local Mount Aksla you have a panoramic view of Ålesund’s architecture as well as the surrounding mountains, islands and fjords.

The near island of Giske is said to be the birth place of the famous viking king Rollo. In the Sunnmøre museum you can learn about the vikings and it includes a cultural-historical exhibitions and an extensive collection of old houses and viking boats.