Ålesund is a fishing town located on the west coast of Norway known for its unique Art Nouveau architecture. After a devastating fire in 1904 destroyed the original wooden structures, the town was rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style with ornate buildings featuring towers, turrets and other decorative elements. Notable streets like Apothekergata and Kongens gate showcase the town's architectural heritage. Ålesund is also an important fishing port and located near the scenic Hjørund and Geiranger fjords.

1. Ålesund, Norway
Ålesund is a fishing town, with an excellent
harbour, built on three small islands on the west
coast of Norway.
The town is noted for its unique architecture.

2. Coordinates:
62°28′N, 06°11′E
Ålesund (or Aalesund)
is located north of
Bergen, on the west
coast.
Pop. 45 299

3. Ålesund is the fishing
capital of Norway. The
town's fishing fleet is
one of the most
modern in Europe.
The town is also a port of call
for passenger and freight
vessels travelling between
Bergen and Trondheim,
including the well-known daily
Hurtigruta (Norwegian
Coastal Express ships).

5. The Hurtigruten route runs along the norwegian coast, till the far
northeast fronteer with Russia in Kirkenes.

6. Ålesund is also one of the very few Art Nouveau
towns in the world, with an atmosphere and
distinctive character valued by its inhabitants.

7. Town view from Fjellstua, a restaurant on top of nearby mount Aksla.

12. The Ålesundet
Along the marine sound that cuts through the inner town, called
Ålesundet, colourful houses – were warehouses but are hotels
now - reflect in sunny days on the calm waters.

19. The city grew around Brosundet, the fishing port, and the narrow
channel Ålesundet. That’s where you find most of the historic sites.

20. In the town center, Kongens gate and Kirkegata are the main streets, but
other deserve a visit, like Apothekergata, Storgata and Løvenvoldgata .
Ålesund has no great central squares: St. Olavs Plass and Aksel Holms
Plass are the main squares.

21. Kongens gate ( King´s Street ) is the old "main street" , the most
prestigious of Ålesund, and where shopping is still a must.

26. Art Nouveu/Jugendstil
Kongens Gata, 12
Shop and flat
1906

31. At one end of Kongens gate, the street opens into St. Olavs square:

33. The biggest music festival in Alesund,
the Jugendfest, takes place here at
St. Olavs plass in August.

34. Kirkegata

37. Built in 1906-08, this
house was performed
in lush Art Nouveau
style.
It served as a Brewery
beer hall since.

39. The buildings are
decorated with towers,
turrets, spirals and
other imaginative and
colourful ornaments.

41. High School entrance

43. Løvenvoldgata and Storgata

44. The Round CornerTower,
Løvenvoldgata (Lion Street)
A nordic neo-Baroque style
with a medieval feel.
It’s the entrance to Løvenvold
kino, a movie theater.

46. Apothekergata

47. Jugendstilsenteret, the Art Nouveau center, now occupies
a historical building that housed the old Swan Pharmacy.

51. The Norwegian Centre of Art Nouveau Architecture, Jugendstilsenteret,
is a museum and competence center with exhibitions telling the story of
the city fire and Art Nouveu/Jugendstil in Norway and Europe.
http://www.jugendstilsenteret.no/

59. Even the cakes served at the cafeteria display Art Nouveau decoration !

61. Old Swan Pharmacy’s
back door

62. Apothekergata ends in Aksel Holms Plass, the other old town small
square:

65. Arbeiderforeningen (Labor Union house) in Aksel Holms Plass

67. Viking ships ornate the pediment.
Art Nouveau in Ålesund is often inspired in viking themes

68. The House was built in 1887, and the municipality of Ålesund took
over the building in 1983. It was re-opened in 1987 after a careful
restauration.

69. Today, ‘Arbeideren’ is one
of Norway's finest venues,
with art nouveau elegant
interior decor.

70. After the 1904 fire, the town was rebuilt in the Art nouveau architectural
style (called Jugendstil in German).
The houses were constructed by Norwegian architects educated in
Trondheim, and being inspired from the style in Europe.

71. The Ålesund Fire in 1904 was
the most terrible of the many
conflagrations to which
Norwegian towns, once built
largely of wood, have been
subjected.
Practically the entire town was
destroyed during the night, a gale
aiding the flames, and the
population had to leave the town
in the middle of the night with only
a few minutes' notice.
Some of the best examples of
Jugendstil can be seen along
Apotekergata, Løvenvoldgata and
Kongensgata.

81. Villa at Helleborg, 2

90. The small details that make
these houses so beautiful.

94. Storgata
corner with
balcony

98. Hotel Rica Scandinavie and
Hotel Brosundet:
The Art Nouveau ambiance
for visitors

99. This is Ålesund’s main
church in the old town. It was
built in 1909, shortly after the
great fire.

103. Frescoes and beautiful
stained glass windows
decorate the sober stone
church..

104. A stunning interior

105. Ålesund Church has one of the finest organs in Norway

106. Aalesunds Museum
The museum is housed in a brick building from 1918 to 1919, built as a
private residence for a local merchant.
The museum building has retained its original appearance,.

107. The museum displays various aspects of the town in its capacity as a
fishing, sealing and shipping port of the commercial and industrial
centre of Sunnmøre.
Key events in the towns history, among them the fire of 1904 and the
German occupation of 1940-45, are also accorded the place due to
them.

108. A room is devoted to central features of the Ålesund variant of the
highly decorative Art Nouveau style
http://www.aalesunds.museum.no

109. Mount Aksla

110. The roofs of Ålesund make great photos from uphill, on nearby mount Aksla.

114. Around Ålesund

116. Ålesund is adjacent to
the Hjørund and
Geiranger fjords, the
latter being on
UNESCO's list of World
Heritage Sites.
Geiranger fjord, The Seven Sisters

119. Geiranger village

120. Giske Church, Ålesund
Built of white marble during the 12th century, in Norman style,
Most of today’s interior woodwork, including the altar and pulpit, was carved
during a large renovation in the 18th century..

121. Giske Church is located on the south side of the island of Giske, about
10 kilometres northwest of the town of Ålesund,
The walls are presently covered by chalk on the outside and plaster on
the inside, so that the marble is only visible in a few places, all on the
outside.

124. The End

125. Ålesund, Norway
Sources:
Photos and text excerpts from:
http://www.trekearth.com
http://www.pbase.com
http://www.panoramio.com/
http://www.flickr.com/
More:
http://www.jugendstilsenteret.no/?slang=1#cid=3
http://www.aalesunds.museum.no/index.php?slang=1#cid=1
Selection and slideshow by Mario Ricca , 2012