Ålesund Maps

Ålesund is a city and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. Located on the west coast, it is spread across several islands, primarily Nørvøy, Aspøy, and Hessa. The city serves as the administrative center of the Ålesund Municipality and is known for its unique concentration of Art Nouveau architecture.

The city's distinctive architectural style emerged following a devastating fire in 1904, which destroyed almost the entire town center. During the rebuilding period from 1904 to 1907, German funds and architects helped reconstruct the city in the prevalent Art Nouveau style, known locally as "Jugendstil." Young Norwegian architects trained in Germany were instrumental in this reconstruction, creating a cohesive architectural ensemble that makes Ålesund one of the few Art Nouveau cities in the world with such preserved architectural unity.

The economy of Ålesund is primarily based on fishing and maritime industries. The city is one of Norway's most important fishing harbors and is home to a large fishing fleet. The surrounding region is also known for furniture manufacturing and maritime technology development.

Major attractions in the city include the Art Nouveau Centre (Jugendstilsenteret), which provides insights into the city's architectural history and reconstruction, and Aksla Viewpoint, accessible by climbing 418 steps from the city park, offering panoramic views of the city, archipelago, and Sunnmøre Alps. The Atlantic Sea Park (Atlanterhavsparken), one of Northern Europe's largest saltwater aquariums, showcases the marine life of the North Atlantic. The city is also home to the Sunnmøre Museum, an open-air museum featuring traditional Norwegian buildings and boats.

As of 2023, Ålesund has a population of approximately 67,000 inhabitants. The city serves as a regional transportation hub with an international airport, Ålesund Airport, Vigra, located on the island of Vigra. The city is connected to the mainland via a network of bridges and tunnels, making it accessible despite its island location.