Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Art Nouveau in Ålesund
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Snug, tidy Ålesund (
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) owes much of its charm to a devastating fire that
ripped through its wooden structures a century ago, destroying everything except the jail
and a church. From its ashes rose a brand-new town, mostly of stone and mostly designed
by young Norwegian architects who had trained in Germany. Strongly influenced by the Ju-
gendstil(artnouveau)movementofthetime,theydesignedbuildingsrichinornamentation,
with turrets, spires, gargoyles and other fanciful elements based on local motifs.
ADINA TOVY AMSEL
