Art Nouveau in Ålesund

Wait what? Ålesund who? Even though nowhere near as remote as Tromsö or Svalbard, it still feels like I’ve reached the very end of Norway. Why someone chose to start a town out here in the rugged island semi-archipelago is a mystery to me. Even getting from the airport to the town center takes crossing several bridges and tunnels!

But Ålesund really is a hidden gem. The entire town burned to the ground in 1904, but was rebuild in Art Nouveau (Jugend). Since most of the buildings were build during three years after the fire, the town has a very unified look. I enjoy wandering around and looking at all the quirky architecture.

Ålesund harbor.

The streets of Ålesund.