NO25.21 Ålesund – Art Nouveau by the Fjord

Ålesund is a pleasant little town with a rather special history. In the early twentieth century, a devastating fire destroyed almost the entire town centre. Rather than simply rebuilding what had been there before, the townspeople chose the then-fashionable Art Nouveau style. The result is still visible today: beautiful, sometimes playful facades with turrets, ornaments and flowing lines that you really wouldn’t expect to find in Norway.

Wandering through the streets of Ålesund feels like strolling through an architecture museum – except that people actually live here, you can stop for coffee, and there’s a harbour in the background. Every building has its own character, and each time you look up you spot new details.

Ålesund isn’t the kind of place where you linger for days, but for a leisurely stroll with your eyes open, it’s absolutely worth a visit. And if you have the energy afterwards, climb Aksla for a fantastic view over the city and the surrounding islands.