ÅLESUND

The city of Ålesund has 45000 inhabitants and is one of the largest and most important fishing harbors in Norway, and the surroundings has also a large furniture industry.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Ålesund was one of the chief stations of the herring fishery business.

In the night of January 23, 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 one person died in the fire, but more than 10,000 people were left without shelter.

Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany had often gone on vacation to Sunnmøre. After the fire, he sent 4 ships 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. The town has an unusually consistent architecture, most of the buildings having been built between 1904 and 1907. Jugendstilsenteret is a national interpretation centre were visitors can learn more about the town fire and the rebuilding afterwards.

www.visitalesund-geiranger.com