Alesund, Norway

The coastal town of Ålesund is the commercial capital of the More og Romsdal district. But more important, it is noted for its characteristic Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) buildings, which some claim make Ålesund one of the most beautiful towns in Norway.

This Art Nouveau style emerged when the town was completely rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1904 destroyed nearly 800 buildings and left 10,000 residents homeless. It is said that the fire started by a tipped oil lamp. Rebuilding was carried out with the help of many young, foreign architects who added their own flourishes to the architectural blend of German Jugendstil and Viking roots.

Today, narrow streets are crammed with buildings topped with turrets, spires and gables that bear decorations of dragonheads and curlicues. As one of the few remaining Art Nouveau towns in the world, in 1998 Ålesund was awarded the coveted Houens National Memorial Prize for the preservation of its unique architecture.

The town center is crowded onto a narrow fishhook-shaped peninsula. Without space to expand farther, most of the approximate 38,000 residents live scattered across surrounding islands and peninsulas. In addition to a picturesque fishing port along the old harbor Brosundet, Ålesund boasts one of the largest facilities in Norway for the export of dried and fresh fish. Come ashore and enjoy this delightful place with its whimsically decorated buildings that give Ålesund its unique ambiance and distinctive character valued by residents and visitors alike.