The Story Behind The Stunning Architecture Of Ålesund, Norway

Whatever the climate, Ålesund is one in all Norway’s most engaging cities because of the towers, spires and different decorative options of the structure. In stark distinction to the easy wood homes of many different Norwegian coastal cities, central Ålesund’s fairy-tale look has extra in widespread with Paris, Prague, and Brussels.

To know why, we should look again greater than 100 years when a hearth all however destroyed the city.

Fireplace in a manufacturing unit

In the course of the nineteenth century, Ålesund emerged as a key buying and selling middle alongside Norway’s west coast. It grew rapidly from a couple of hundred individuals to greater than 10,000, throughout which period many wood homes had been in-built a confined area.

Within the early hours of January 3, 1904, a hearth broke out inside a manufacturing unit constructing. Regardless of arriving rapidly on the scene, hearth crews had been met with thick smoke and the sight of the manufacturing unit and neighboring wood buildings ablaze. Fireplace crews had been rapidly overwhelmed as the fireplace unfold resulting from a fierce winter gale passing by the city.

Inside a matter of hours, solely 230 homes remained standing. Remarkably there was only one reported fatality within the blaze, though greater than 800 homes had been destroyed.

Common with European royalty

In the present day Ålesund is called one in all Norway’s must-visit locations. The identical was true within the early twentieth century, because the city and the encircling space together with the Sunnmøre Alps and Hjørundfjord had been in style with European royalty and different rich vacationers.

A type of—Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany—was so shocked to listen to of the fireplace that he despatched 4 ships with individuals, supplies and medication to assist the restoration efforts.

Younger Norwegian designers and designers took up the problem to rebuild the city and had been impressed by the artwork nouveau fashion in style in Germany and different elements of Europe on the time. The outcome created one in all Norway’s most distinctive cities.

A strolling tour

One of the simplest ways to understand the ultimate result’s merely to wander the streets of the compact central district. Begin at Lorkenstorget, the sq. by the canal bridge that hyperlinks the 2 halves of downtown Ålesund.

Head up Notenesgata earlier than turning left onto the engaging waterfront path Skansegata. Retrace your steps when you attain the Ålesund vacationer info workplace at Skateflukaia, cross the bridge and switch proper on to Apotekergata for one more view throughout the water.

Stroll by Molovegen, a previously run-down waterside district now dominated by educational institutes and galleries. Proceed alongside the pier to the 150-year outdated Molja Lighthouse for one more perspective on Ålesund and Mount Aksla not typically seen in pictures.

The lighthouse doubles as room 47 for the close by Hotel Brosundet. The resort claims that the comfy room that features breakfast delivered to the door has been featured in additional journey magazines than another European resort room.

Tips on how to study extra

Though the city’s structure is a museum in itself, Jugendstilsenteret remains to be price a go to to study much more particulars in regards to the metropolis hearth and subsequent renaissance.

The reception space retains the unique fittings from the constructing’s former life as a pharmacy, whereas the outside is a hanging instance of the structure that makes Ålesund so interesting. Your ticket additionally covers entrance to the Kube Artwork Museum, subsequent door.