The best cycling routes around Sykkylven

A lovely walk along the coast. You might have to make your way through a small herd of goats.

The port city is located on Norway's west coast. Ålesund is notable for its Art Nouveau architecture. After a major fire in 1904, it was almost completely rebuilt, using this distinctive architectural style. This makes the city one of the most attractive in the country. Ålesund stretches across several islands connected by bridges and tunnels. This creates impressive views of the sea and the surrounding mountains. The viewpoint on the local mountain, Aksla, is famous – from here you can enjoy a magnificent view of the city and the harbor, as well as the Sunnmøre Alps in the distance. Source: seereiseplanung-kreuzfahrte.de A short trip to the Geirangerfjord is recommended.

Aksel Thalberg Holm (1890-1947) was born in Alesund and grew up in Molovein. He took over the company Oluf Holm A/S founded by his father and significantly expanded the business both at home and abroad. The main product was medicinal oil. The company dominated the world market. When war broke out in 1940, Holm was German consul and member of the Presidium. He gained a central position when the Presidium asked him to negotiate with the squatters, a task for which he received great thanks from the city's judicial authorities. For this legacy, as well as for his donations to the cultural life in the city, the municipality has the opportunity to connect this place. [ Source: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=243247 ]

The young town of Ålesund got its own church in 1855. It was a stone church with Heinrich Ernst Schirmer (1814-1887) as architect. He was also the architect for the churches in Ørsta, Vartdal and Hareid - and from 1857 for Strøm Church. Strøm Church near Skarnes at Kongsvinger is very similar to the church that fell victim to the town fire on January 23, 1904. Neighbouring wooden houses were preserved after the fire, while the stone church burned! The explanation is that the tower hatches were left open so that the sound of the church bells warning of the fire could reach as far as possible among the people in the town. 850 houses burned, 10,000 people were left homeless - and the town had no church. In a busy period of reconstruction, when one might think that every family had enough for their own needs, work to build a new church was nevertheless given high priority. An architectural competition was announced as early as the summer of 1904. 63 proposals were received! The proposal by architect Sverre Knudsen from Oslo won. The old church, as is usual for Norwegian churches, had the choir facing east – towards the sunrise and the direction of Jesus' return. To take advantage of the topography and have a beautiful entrance from Øwregata, sheltered from the western weather, the end of the church was turned and the main entrance was facing east. This way the choir façade – with stained glass – had plenty of space facing the wide Aspøgata. The foundation stone was laid by the new king on 13 July 1906. King Haakon 7 was then on his first visit to Ålesund after being crowned king in Nidaros Cathedral. A reminder for us of the change that was taking place in our country at exactly that time – Norway became a free nation in 1905. The church is built of natural stone (Ålesund Wall) and clad with marble stone from Lyngstad in Eide municipality in Nordmøre. 2,000 square meters of marble stone cover the church façade – the stone has shades of pink, gray and black in the white, but still: it is marble! Stones from the same quarry can be found, for example, in Rønnebergbua, Fladmarkhuset and the narrow house in Kongensgate. The church was consecrated on September 15, 1909. [ Source: https://www.visitnorway.de/listings/%C3%85lesund-kirche/30031/ ]

Old church from 1909 It's worth a visit The stained glass windows are well worth seeing

The exchange stone is made of Carrara marble. The church building is made of local marble

Foundation stone laid in 1906

Alesund has a beautiful old town with plenty to explore. If the weather is bad, you can visit one of the many museums or the Atlantic Park. Alesund is definitely worth a visit.