Ålesund , Art Nouveau and Architecture
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Alesund, Norway and cruising toward the Arctic Circle
The coastal city of Alesund is known for its dramatic natural beauty with scenic views of fjords and mountains. It’s also famous for a terrible fire that burned the town to the ground a hundred years ago leaving tens of thousands of people homeless. Like the proverbial phoenix, the site rebuilt with a distinctive art nouveau sensibility.
Art Nouveau was a compelling, refreshing style in the visual arts which spanned from around the early 1890s to the First World War and beyond. Art Nouveau artists, inspired by plant forms and nature, took organic subjects and flattened and abstracted them into sophisticated, sinuous and flowing motifs. The style is a unique take in Norway, not as sexy as in the US perhaps, on the sturdy buildings in Ålesund.
In Olden, we went crayfish fishing, caught our dinner! Delicious with the local apple hard cider. We were grateful for the full-body suits provided, lovely, warm and waterproof!
Alesund town stroll, with 400 steps to a stunning view at the top of Fjellstua (the F is silent!)
Two gigantic cruise ships disgorged thousands of tourists. Azamara Journey with about 800 guests dwarfed by the behemoths and docked away from the maddening crowds.
