Ålesund's beautiful Art Nouveau architecture is known far and wide. Ålesund is also a modern, pulsating town with a varied cultural scene, exciting cafés and restaurants and a rich assortment of shops. Ålesund is internationally renowned for its Jugendstil (art nouveau) architecture, the whole center reflecting the style of around 1910,when the town was rebuilt after the fire of 1904.

The town is a pretty sight from Aksla Mountain, and in the center you see the fishermen selling their catch. The aquarium, Sunnmøre museum, food festival, the many islands off the coast and hundreds of mountains inland - Ålesund is a beautiful town, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1998. Down by the harbor, you willoften see ships moored and being loaded with furnitureand dried fish, which is to be exported to connoisseurs of quality goods all over the world. Fishing and fisheries play a strong part in the history and traditions of Ålesund. Unlike the people of Northern Norway, who hang their cod out to dry on drying racks, the people of Sunnmøre lay their catches out to dry on the rocks by the shore, or "klipper" - hence the name "klippfisk". The fishermen of Ålesund have provided many a bowl of bacalao for southern Europeans and South Americans! There are many fine restaurants in Ålesund where the chefs prepare delicious seafood dishes with ingredients fresh from the sea.

An old trading centre from the 1600s. The house standing there today is from the 1700s. Open house with host: possibility to buy coffee, waffles and “svele”.

For those interested in historical plays, Sunnmøre is an eldorado during the summer!

Sunnmøre Museun was founded in 1931, with all the villages in Sunnmøre as its object. More than 50 houses and 40 boats in the outdoor museum show part of what life was like up until the early 1900. It is currently the regional museum for the Sunnmøre district. It is a folk museum for the Norwegian coastal culture and is spread out over an outdoor area of 120 hectares (ca. 50 acres) at Borgundgavlen about 4 km east of the town centre.Borgundkaupangen, a partially excavated medieval market town, is also located at Borgundgavlen. Archeological artifacts and excavations are displayed in a separate museum building in the middle of the old historical site. The old Borgund church and rectory, which are steeped in tradition, are situated in the middle of this area.

At the museum, you can among others try a boattrip with Borgundknarren, a reconstructed viking ship.

Other Museums in the area

Volda Bygdetun Is also an outdoor museum, with old buildings and artefacts from the 19th centuryfarmkeeping. At the Tannery Museum at Volda Bygdetun, you can learn more about the process of tanning hides and skins.

The Brudavolltun In Ørsta is an almost complete farm from the early 18th century.

Ytste Skotet Is, unlike the previous mentioned outdoor museums, only open during summer. Boat is the most important access route, and this living museum shows preindustrial, selfsustainable farming.The Medieval Museum shows archeological works done in the area of Sunnmøre Museum. 900 years ago, this was a lively centre for trade, politics and religion.

Herøy Coastal Museum is based on an old trade centre, with buildings and traditional boats from the 19th century. A copy of the Kvalsund ship from 600 AD, and of the traditional boat used in Sunnmøre during the 18th century can also be found here. In Brandal, the stories connected to boats are newer, but no less dramatic.

The Arctic Museum Aarvak shows some of the dramatic polar history connected to the west coast of Norway.

The Fisheries Museum in Ålesund, a part of Aalesunds Museum, situated in an old cod liver oil factory, still contains the smells and the sound of seagulls.

Aalesunds Museum is the city museum, and exhibits miniature fishing boats, Art Nouveau artefacts, World War 2, and a little "egg" - Brudeegget - which crossed the Atlantic.

The Godøy Coastal Museum, also exhibits artefacts from World War 2, as well as archeological discoveries, hunting and fisheries, all from the local area.

In Volda the Sivert Aarflot Museum shows the first countryside printing works in Norway, from 1809.

Norsk Møbelfaglig Senter is the site for furniture history, covering the whole of Norway. It is located in Sykkylven, the furniture capital of Sunnmøre, and the base for the Siesta chair and the Stressless.

Sykkylven Natural Historical Museum shows beautiful panoramas with an extended collection of living animals and birds from Norway and Spitsbergen.

The Atlantic Sea-Park is one of the largest aquariums in Northern Europe, and has been built into the coastal landscape at Tueneset, the coastline west in Ålesund. Study the large landscape-tanks that show life in the Atlantic Ocean and see what goes on in the skerries, in the depths of the Storfjord, under the docks, and in the saltwater currents.

Be fascinated by the hectic activity in the largest tank when the diver enters to hand-feed the fish everyday at 13 o'clock (from 01.06.-31.08. also at 15.30). During the weekends you can join in and feed the fish in the open pools at 15, and it is also possible to feed the crabs several times during the day throughout the year.

The aquarium also has a cosy café where you can eat tasty snacks while you enjoy the exciting view. In the souvenir shop you'll find lots of items you can bring home as a memory of The Atlantic Sea-Park, and a stroll in the beautiful outdoors area will make the visit complete. Here you can explore a large area with places to swim, fish and dive, and great hiking paths.

Address: Tueneset, 6006 ÅlesundPhone: 70 10 70 60 Telefax: 70 10 70 61

E-mail: mail@atlanterhavsparken.no

Skjonghelleren is situated on Valderøy in Giske municipality, and is an exciting cave 57 metres up in the mountain side. The cave has got a 100 metres deep tunnel, and you can walk while standing up straight until you reach the final 30 metres. There has been found traces of settlement dating back to the Stone Age here, when the neighbour island Giske barely had risen from the ocean after the last Ice Age. There has also been found traces of wildlife dating over 30.000 years back in Skjonghelleren, and you can hear more about it at Godøy Coastal Museum.

Skjonghelleren

Address: , 6050 Valderøy

Phone: 70 18 80 00

E-mail: post@giske.kommune.no

Travelling time from Ålesund town centre 15 min

Season All year round

The first church that was built where Ålesund Church lies today, was designed by Heinrich Schrimer, and constructed in 1854. This church was damaged in the Town Fire in 1904, even though it was built in brick. The present Ålesund Church was designed by Sverre Knudsen, and the first stone was laid down by King Haakon the 7th in July 1906. The church was inaugurated in 1909, and was built in concrete, and dressed with marble from Northern Møre. The frescoes and beautiful stained glass windows were made by Martin Enevold Thømt and Oddvar Straume, and the glass gable windows behind the organ were a gift from the German Kaiser Wilhelm II. The font is made from Italian marble, and the church has got three bells of various sizes. The organ has got 64 tunes, and is one of the largest in Norway.

Ålesund Church

Address: Kirkegata 2, 6004 Ålesund

Phone: 70 12 82 64

Information: 70 10 17 60

The National Monument at Hjørungavåg

In 986 A.D, a decisive battle was fought at Hjørungavåg in Hareid. Håkon and Eirik Earl's victory over the Joms Vikings was an important part in the process of gathering all of Norway into one kingdom. By Overåsanden you can see the National Monument of the battle, and in 2006, the historical play "Maktkamp ved Hjørungavåg" will be presented for the 11th time.

Information