It occupies two of the outer islands of the west coast, Aspo? and Norvo?, which enclose the picturesque harbour. Founded in 1824, it is the principal shipping-place of Sondmore? district, and one of the chief stations of the herring fishery. Aalesund is adjacent to the Jorund and Geiranger fjords, frequented by tourists. From Oje at the head of Jorund a road strikes south to the Nordfjord?, and from Merck on Geiranger another strikes inland to Otta?, on the railway to Lillehammer? and Oslo. Aalesund is a port of call for steamers between Bergen, Hull, Newcastle?, Hamburg?, and Trondheim?. A little to the south of the town are the ruins of the reputed castle of Hrolf Ganger, better known as Rollo?, the 9th century founder of the dynasty of the dukes of Normandy.
On January 23, 1904, Aalesund was the scene of one of the most terrible of the many conflagrations to which Norwegian towns, once built largely of wood, have been subject. Practically the whole town was destroyed, a gale aiding the flames, and the population had to leave the place in the night at the notice of a few minutes. After the fire, Aalesund was rebuilt in an unusual Art Nouveau architectural style with turrets, spires, and ornamentation in many places.
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