Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
This international research station, testament to the islands importance in the biology
sphere, has accomodation, hosts conferences and training courses, and has an exhibition
space.
WORTH A TRIP
STORDAL
If you're travelling between Valldal and Ålesund on the Rv650, do make a short stop at St-
ordal's
Rose Church
(Rosekyrka; adult/child Nkr30/15; 11am-4pm mid-Jun-mid-Aug). Unas-
suming from the outside, it was constructed in 1789 on the site of an earlier stave church,
elements of which were retained. Inside comes the surprise: the roof, walls and every last
pillar are sumptuously painted with scenes from the Bible and portraits of saints in an en-
gagingly naive interpretation of high baroque.
Ålesund
Pop 23,000
The home base for Norway's largest cod-fishing fleet, Ålesund sits on a narrow, fishhook-
shaped sea-bound peninsula. Despite its primary source of income, this is no regular Nor-
wegian port. After a devastating fire in 1904, the city was rebuilt in curvaceous Jugendstil
- art nouveau - style and today remains Scandinavia's most complete and harmonious ex-
ample of the era.
