Alesund Art Nouveau Town

In 1904 a fire destroyed almost all of Alesund, and the town rose again in a few remarkable years entirely in the art nouveau style then sweeping Europe, all turrets, spires and ornamented facades. Spread across islands between the fjords and the open Atlantic, it is one of the most distinctive townscapes in Norway.

Highlights

• The art nouveau streets - the turreted, ornamented facades filling the centre.
• The Aksla viewpoint - the stepped climb up Mount Aksla for the classic town panorama.
• The art nouveau centre - the museum in a preserved period interior.
• The island setting - the town on its islands between fjord and sea.

When to go

Year-round, since this is architecture and a view; summer for terraces and boat trips, clear days for the Aksla panorama. Evening light warms the facades.

Things to know

The whole town shares one short-lived style, which is its appeal but also means it can feel of a single moment. The famous view requires the climb up Aksla, though a road reaches the top too. It is a working port town as much as a heritage set piece.

Nearby

The Geirangerfjord and Trollstigen lie inland; the Atlantic islands and bird cliffs are offshore.