Ã…lesund

45.220 ( March 31, 2013 )

Ålesund? / I is a town and commune in the province (county ) Møre og Romsdal in Norway. The embossed by the Art Nouveau Centre as well as the scenic location of the city and surroundings make it a major destination for tourism in Norway.

4.1 Mount Aksla and the City Park
4.2 museums in the city of Ålesund
4.3 Churches in Alesund
4.4 Area of Ålesund

Location

The city is located about 236 km north- northeast of Bergen on several islands in the Norwegian Sea. The area of Alesund is characterized by fjords, mountain and island chains.

History

Ålesund was first documented in approximately the mid-15th century as a branch Bergen merchants on their way north. In 1848, her town rights. The city grew in a short time to strong and became one of the largest fishing ports in Norway and the largest export port for cod in Norway.

On the night of January 23, 1904 a fire destroyed almost the entire city center. Triggered by an overturned kerosene lamp in a margarine factory the fire burned for over 16 hours. About 850 homes - all almost completely built in wood construction - were completely destroyed and more than 10,000 inhabitants were left homeless.

The city was built, among other things with the help of Germany again. Kaiser Wilhelm II, a great admirer of Norway, ordered the immediate relief supplies of food, medicines and building materials. He sent four ships of the Imperial Navy for disaster relief, funded from his private assets. The discharged ships served the homeless by fire people temporarily as an emergency shelter. On the financing, and the two major German shipping companies Hapag and North German Lloyd involved. Through the reconstruction of Ålesund is known for its fully built in the Art Nouveau Centre. After adoption of new houses could be built only from stone. In just seven years, the largest part of Ålesund was rebuilt. Out of gratitude for the quick help one of the main streets is named after Emperor Wilhelm. A seven meter high obelisk was erected for him, an excursion boat in the bay still bears his name ( in German notation) and a stained glass window in the main church shows the Prussian coat of arms.

On 26 March 2008, there was a misfortune than a sixteenth -story house probably collapsed by a landslide, six people among themselves buried.

Since November 26, 2008 Ålesund is a member of the Covenant of Mayors.

Traffic

Ålesund is easily accessible by land via developed highways from all parts of the country. The European Routes 136 and 6 connect the city with the eastern parts of the country and on the run in the north-south direction E 39 can be reached Bergen and Trondheim.

Airfield

Ålesund has an airport, which is about 20 km outside the city on the island of Vigra. From there, there are several connections to Oslo, in other Norwegian cities, and since April 4, 2013 after Amsterdam. There are corresponding flight buses to and from Ålesund to all flights. The road between Ålesund and the airport leads, inter alia, by two undersea tunnel: the Ellingsøytunnel and Valderøytunnel.

Hurtigruten

Ålesund is Hurtigruten. In summer, the boats stop northbound twice. Because of the passengers who travel for tourist purposes, the Hurtigruten ships from Ålesund drive into the Geirangerfjord and back to Ålesund. The former mail-boat fleet in Norway also continues to supply ports with food and goods.

Rail and bus

Ålesund has no railway line to the nearest train station is in about 120 kilometers away Åndalsnes. From this station several times a day a bus to Ålesund. Other remote bus connections to Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim.

Attractions and Tourism

After the fire in 1904 Ålesund was rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style and offers a remarkable city. In Ålesund, there is an aquarium, where you can browse through the local fish species. Each day the fish are fed there by a diver. Near the airport, Vigra, there is a lighthouse, which is open for visitors during summer. Also, is it the university Ålesund. The Geirangerfjord is very close. The fjord landscape, with the Geirangerfjord and the Hjorundfjord is well suited for hiking holidays. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site is the region that is relevant for Norway tourist destination.

Mount Aksla and the City Park

Museums in the city of Ålesund

Churches in Alesund

Alesund Church, built in 1909 with beautiful stained glass. Behind the organ shows a stained glass window, the Prussian coat of arms (thanks to Prussia / Germany for their generous help after the great fire in 1904).
Volsdalen Church, built in 1974
Borgund Church, built in 1904 on the remains of the old St. Peter's Church from the 12th century with beautiful wood carvings inside.
Spjelkavik Church, built in 1987 with beautiful stained glass

Around Alesund

Round Island in the municipality Herøy live here 100 inhabitants and 500,000 birds in summer
Coastal Museum Herøy, buildings and equipment from the 19th Century
Arctic Sea Museum Aarvak in Brandal, Norway's largest Arctic Sea Museum, here is also a seal fishing vessel
Hjørungavåg, monument to a historic battle in the year 986

Twinning

Ålesund sister cities are:

Sweden Västerås, Sweden, since 1947
Finland Lahti, Finland, since 1947
Denmark Randers, Denmark, since 1947
Iceland Akureyri, Iceland, since 1949

United Kingdom Peterhead, Scotland (United Kingdom, since 1967 )
Italy Borgo a Mozzano, Italy, since 1979
United States Tacoma, United States, since 1986

Sons and daughters of the town

Dagfinn Aarskog ( b. 1928 ), a pediatrician and geneticist
January Åge Fjørtoft (born 1967 ), football player
Marit Kaldhol (* 1955), children's book author
Ann Kristin Aarones (born 1973 ), football player
Tor Hogne Aarøy ( b. 1977 ), football player
Leni Larsen Kaurin ( b. 1981 ), football player
Bjørn Helge Riise ( b. 1983 ), football player
John Arne Riise ( born 1980 ), football player
Erika Espeseth Skarbø (* 1987), football player

Other cities with same name

After the city the village Ny -Ålesund on Spitsbergen was named.

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