Stephan Neven
Ålesund from Aksla viewpoint (HDR)
The Norwegian city of Ålesund, seen from the Aksla viewpoint.
The port of Ålesund was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 and it received town rights in 1848. In 1968 the neighbouring town of Borgund was merged into the Ålesund community.
In the night of 23 January 1904, the town was the scene of the Ålesund Fire, one of the most terrible of the many conflagrations to which Norwegian towns, once built largely of wood, have been subjected. Practically the entire town was destroyed during the night, a gale aiding the flames, and the population had to leave the town in the middle of the night with only a few minutes' notice. Only two houses in the middle of the fire survived, a house on the end of the northern quay and, miracalously, a house, in the middle of the city.
Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany had often gone on vacation to Sunnmøre. After the fire, he sent four warships with materials to build temporary shelters and barracks. After a period of planning, the town was rebuilt in stone, brick, and mortar in Jugendstil (Art Nouveau), the architectural style of the time. The structures were designed by approximately 20 master builders and 30 Norwegian architects, most of them educated in Trondheim and Charlottenburg, Berlin, drawing inspiration from all over Europe. To honor Wilhelm, one of the most frequented streets of the town is named after him.
The municipality of Ålesund occupies seven of the outer islands in the county of Møre og Romsdal: Hessa, Aspøya, Nørvøya, Oksnøya, Ellingsøya, Humla, and Tørla. The town centre is located on the islands Aspøya and Nørvøy, while Heissa and Oksnøya contain residential areas.
The second largest island, Elingsøya, used to be accessible only by boat or by road via Skodje municipality, but an undersea tunnel was built in 1987 to make travelling between the island and the town centre more convenient. The tunnel is 3,481 metres long, and was upgraded in 2009.
Situated 236 km north northeast of Bergen, Ålesund is adjacent to the Hjørund and Geiranger fjords, the latter being on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites, so it's a great place to visit and to start a tour to the fjords.
I've been there for around three days during my holiday in Norway in May and June 2012. I also have a SOOC photo of this city: Ålesund
Ålesund from Aksla viewpoint (HDR)
The Norwegian city of Ålesund, seen from the Aksla viewpoint.
The port of Ålesund was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 and it received town rights in 1848. In 1968 the neighbouring town of Borgund was merged into the Ålesund community.
In the night of 23 January 1904, the town was the scene of the Ålesund Fire, one of the most terrible of the many conflagrations to which Norwegian towns, once built largely of wood, have been subjected. Practically the entire town was destroyed during the night, a gale aiding the flames, and the population had to leave the town in the middle of the night with only a few minutes' notice. Only two houses in the middle of the fire survived, a house on the end of the northern quay and, miracalously, a house, in the middle of the city.
Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany had often gone on vacation to Sunnmøre. After the fire, he sent four warships with materials to build temporary shelters and barracks. After a period of planning, the town was rebuilt in stone, brick, and mortar in Jugendstil (Art Nouveau), the architectural style of the time. The structures were designed by approximately 20 master builders and 30 Norwegian architects, most of them educated in Trondheim and Charlottenburg, Berlin, drawing inspiration from all over Europe. To honor Wilhelm, one of the most frequented streets of the town is named after him.
The municipality of Ålesund occupies seven of the outer islands in the county of Møre og Romsdal: Hessa, Aspøya, Nørvøya, Oksnøya, Ellingsøya, Humla, and Tørla. The town centre is located on the islands Aspøya and Nørvøy, while Heissa and Oksnøya contain residential areas.
The second largest island, Elingsøya, used to be accessible only by boat or by road via Skodje municipality, but an undersea tunnel was built in 1987 to make travelling between the island and the town centre more convenient. The tunnel is 3,481 metres long, and was upgraded in 2009.
Situated 236 km north northeast of Bergen, Ålesund is adjacent to the Hjørund and Geiranger fjords, the latter being on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites, so it's a great place to visit and to start a tour to the fjords.
I've been there for around three days during my holiday in Norway in May and June 2012. I also have a SOOC photo of this city: Ålesund