Ålesund

Ålesund is a <a href="/facts/List_of_towns_and_cities_in_Norway/ybS1Q6YA">town</a> in <a href="/facts/M%25C3%25B8re_og_Romsdal/DFsdrl18">Møre og Romsdal</a> county, <a href="/facts/Norway/wlDRKRTR">Norway</a>. The town is the <a href="/facts/Administrative_centre/jyz1zfzk">administrative centre</a> of <a href="/facts/%25C3%2585lesund_Municipality/660SX1sl">Ålesund Municipality</a>. The centre of the town of Ålesund lies on the islands of <a href="/facts/Hessa/pcvxkEjb">Hessa</a>, <a href="/facts/Asp%25C3%25B8ya%2c_%25C3%2585lesund/6K6UtICf">Aspøya</a>, and <a href="/facts/N%25C3%25B8rve/hUA29BXo">Nørve</a> with newer developments located on the islands of <a href="/facts/Uksen%25C3%25B8ya/gEhUTsrQ">Uksenøya</a> the outer parts of the "urban area" even stretch onto the island of <a href="/facts/Sula_(island)/U8Xe2xXL">Sula</a> which is in the neighboring <a href="/facts/Sula_Municipality/MrnSIUzK">Sula Municipality</a>.
The town is the main headquarters for the <a href="/facts/Norwegian_Coastal_Administration/zjyNutoN">Norwegian Coastal Administration</a> as well as one location of the <a href="/facts/M%25C3%25B8re_og_Romsdal_District_Court/8wdH9Fqy">Møre og Romsdal District Court</a>.
In Norwegian, Ålesund is considered to be a by which can be translated as a town or a city. Ålesund is the ninth largest town/city in Norway. The town has become more of an <a href="/facts/Urban_agglomeration/fu9v8h5P">urban agglomeration</a> during the late part of the 20th century and the urban area has spread out and into the neighboring <a href="/facts/Sula_Municipality/MrnSIUzK">Sula Municipality</a>. The 28.93-square-kilometre (7,150-acre) town has a population (2024) of 55,684 and a <a href="/facts/Population_density/70zGTCFc">population density</a> of 1,925 inhabitants per square kilometre (4,990/sq mi). About 21.75 square kilometres (8.40 sq mi) of the town with a population of 46,554 lies in <a href="/facts/%25C3%2585lesund_Municipality/660SX1sl">Ålesund Municipality</a> and the remaining 7.19 square kilometres (2.78 sq mi) of the town with a population of 9,130 lies in <a href="/facts/Sula_Municipality/MrnSIUzK">Sula Municipality</a>.
The town has an unusually consistent architecture, most of the buildings having been built between 1904 and 1907. <a href="/facts/Jugendstilsenteret/pkkNfXQD">Jugendstilsenteret</a> is a national <a href="/facts/Interpretation_centre/sCjaRcHR">interpretation centre</a>, visitors can learn more about the town fire, the rebuilding of the town and the <a href="/facts/Art_Nouveau_architecture/e2Ahfp05">Art Nouveau</a> style. Ålesund is a partner in the <a href="/facts/R%25C3%25A9seau_Art_Nouveau_Network/jjk0XDmL">Art nouveau network</a>, a European network of co-operation created in 1999 for the study, safeguards and development of the Art nouveau.
The term "Little London" was often applied to the community during the <a href="/facts/Occupation_of_Norway_by_Nazi_Germany/QTJY0pEf">occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany</a> due to the <a href="/facts/Norwegian_resistance/lHUDMUaV">Norwegian resistance</a> work that took place here. Among other things, the city was central to the flights to Scotland and <a href="/facts/England/U9mE5bGL">England</a>.

Ålesund open-in-new

Ålesund