Ålesund, situated on the west coast of Norway south of Trondheim, is completely atypical. A disastrous fire early in the twentieth century led to international aid [the German Kaiser was fond of the city and put a lot into the fund] Rebuilding in the style of the time led to this extraordinary anomaly, an art nouveau styled city on the Norwegian coast.

The buildings have to be seen to be believed but Ålesund is also a great centre for Geiranger area as well as others. The outlying  Runde is the southernmost of Norway's bird rocks and can easily be visited from here.

davidx, 27/07/2004