Waking up at 6:00 a.m. really paid off today!
I had a couple of hours in Ålesund (~200 km north of Bergen) and was fortunate enough to explore the city early in the morning, before the streets filled with foot traffic.
In 1904, a devastating fire destroyed most of the wooden town, including 10,000 homes. In the aftermath, the city introduced a new rule prohibiting the use of wood in construction. Young Norwegian and foreign architects were brought in to redesign Ålesund, and they embraced the fashionable Art Nouveau style of the day.
The city was rebuilt almost entirely in Art Nouveau, with distinctive towers, spires, and beautiful floral patterns. Unlike the geometric lines of Art Deco, Art Nouveau is characterized by flowing, curved forms inspired by nature.
Walking through the quiet streets, it was easy to appreciate Ålesund’s unique charm.
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