Alesund, Norway Photo Gallery
We have arrived at Alesund, and there's a chance of rain.
The view out my window starboard side and across from the port.
Our goal today is to get to the top of this hill.
Portside and now it's sunny and very beautiful! Brian & I decided to do the train tour here to take us to the top of that hill.
Our selfie on the train ride with our headphones to hear all the information where we were touring.
The Kristofer Randers monument was erected in 1951 to honor the Norwegian poet and theater critic. This statue was at the top of that hill.
A gorgeous view taken on Aksla Hill.
Brian and I on top of Aksla Hill. Everyday as I toured I had my camera strapped on in one direction and my purse the other.
A closer view of Ålesund and its colorful buildings.
A view of Steinvågbrua, a bridge in Alesund.
More beautiful views from Aksla Hill.
Brian on the trail we had to hike to get to the top of the hill.
Looking back up the rocky trail we came down.
Now we're done with the train tour and are exploring Alesund by foot, but the clouds are not looking good.
Jugendstilsenteret is an Art Nouveau Center, in the former building of Swan Pharmacy that was built between 1905 and 1907.
You can see the golden swan of Swan Pharmacy. The Art Nouveau center was opened by Queen Sonja of Norway on June 6, 2003.
Statue Of Young Sailor-Fisher Boy On Brosundet Canal.
On January 23, 1904, practically the entire town was destroyed during the night by a fire. Because of rebuilding afterwards between 1904-07, the town has an unusually consistent architecture, art nouveau. I call this the vine house.
One of the biggest contributors to help the rebuild was Kaiser Wilhelm II, who had spent many vacations in the area. He sent five support ships full of food, medicine, construction materials, blankets, and other forms of aid to the town. The main street in Ålesund is named after him because of this.
Looking at all the different boats on the Brosundet canal.
The Hellebroa Bridge with the Lorkenesgate building in the back of the photo.
I think these buildings are just so interesting to look at. Nothing boring about the architecture.
Another building, this one from 1906. Time to avoid rain and eat lunch on the ship.
I went back out after lunch and the rain had stopped by myself. Brian needed to rest his knee. I passed a mine from the world war I.
Wall art, "They Were Here First"-The seagulls were here in Alesund before us.
A view of a downtown street .
Ålesund Church-The 1st church was consecrated in 1855, but was destroyed in the 1904 fire. The present church was completed in 1909.
Ålesund Church the side entrance where I entered.
I really enjoyed my visit to this church. It was very beautiful and they had an information sheet to read about the different art inside. While I was sitting and absorbing this place a girl came up to play the organ. It was such a blessing! Enjoy more photos than normal to see all the details.
The Altarpiece of lime wood with its frame of pine depicts Jesus praying in Gethsemane, with the disciples sleeping on one side and Judas the betrayer on the other.
Enevold Thomt's (the painter) idea for the frescos was to depict a sermon of the most central aspects of the Christian faith. This wall shows the birth of Jesus.
This side shows Jesus' Ascension. On the top of the vault is a dove-the symbol of the Holy Trinity.
The fresco on the left of the altarpiece is the expulsion from paradise and contrast on the right is the heavenly paradise.
A closer view of the stained=glass window behind the altarpiece of Jesus on the cross.
On the Presbytery Arch were symbolic pictures, the bottom Baptism-The Communion and the next Prayer-Thanks.
The Baptismal Font was carved in Italian Carrara marble, which I saw in Italy.
The ship and the images in the windows refer to the principal trade of Ålesund, fishing. The left window shows the miraculous catch of fish and the right shows Jesus saving sinking Peter.
The windows on the north side of the church illustrate Jesus' parables, this one the Marriage of the King's Son.
Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan.
Jesus' parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins.
The church organ and 3 stained-glass windows that were a gift from German emperor Wilhelm II.
These flowers were beautiful on the church grounds leading to the cemetery .
Another interesting art nouveau house.
A window of different glasses.
A building at Aksel Holms plass (place), named this to honor Aksel Thalberg Holm, who had a company that produced medicinal oil and was also a city leader.
Looking across the canal and towards the hill of Aksla, where we were earlier in the day. I had friends who climbed the switchback stairs (418 of them) up the side of the hill to get to Rundskue viewpoint.
Molja lighthouse marks the entrance to the waterway that slices through central Ålesund.. It is now a charming landmark and unique hotel room.
Alesund fishing harbor.
A photo I took when passing one of the boats in the harbor.
Some old sailing ships.
Many of Ålesund’s Jugendstil buildings from the beginning of the 20th century are crowned by playful- looking turrets, adding to the fantasy-like fairy-tale atmosphere of the city.
Another building with a fairy-tale turret.
The Herring Wife is a lifelike tribute to those women who worked at salting herring, which was one of the town’s main industries.
This statue is titled "Sister and Brother."
A detail on one of the buildings here in town. I don't think that would be easy to paint.
On a pedestrian street here in town.
Paperboy (150 Years of Posten)-Another paperboy statue, the other in Germany.
Norwegians have a love-hate relationship with trolls. They are reported to turn to stone if they are exposed to daylight and hence the number of rocky cliffs in the country. I found these 2 in town.
There was a street(gate) festival happening. I watched a dance group, a style show made up of kids playing dress-up, and a violin concert. They had a small-town feel and seemed to be encouraging the kids in town.
Flowers and bird statues near the canal.
Manhole cover of the day.
Oberon Sculpture-King of Fairies.