Ålesund - Molde & the Atlantic Road (round trip)

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FRAM

(Photo: Johan Wildhagen DKN/Visit Nordvest) This trip takes you from Ålesund via Molde to what is often described as the world’s most beautiful road! https://fram.trekksoft.com/en_GB/activity/82024/rundtur-til-molde-atlanterhavsvegen With its location at the edge of the mighty ocean, the Atlantic Road is as beautiful in sunshine and calm weather as in full storm and rain. The Atlantic Road connects Averøy with the mainland via a series of small islands and islets spanned by a total of eight bridges over 8274 meters. The road is a national tourist route. On this round trip, the bus stops at Eldhusøya, where you can take a walk on the suspended walkway around the islet. The walkway consists of latticework (“grids”) “floating” above the terrain, and is suitable for or anyone. The service building at Eldhusøya, with its distinct architecture that falls into the terrain, has a café and toilets. The area also offers a magnificent landscape, a rich bird life and great fishing opportunities. On your way back to Ålesund you have some time in Molde to walk around this charming town between the fjord and the hills. Molde offers a magnificent view towards the fjord and the mountains on the other side, and has a multitude of shops, cafés, etc. Note that you can choose between two departure times from Molde (see timetable below). Departure from: Ålesund bus terminal (Rutebilstasjonen), track 4

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Points of interest

#1

Ålesund Rutebilstasjon

(Photo: bypatrioten.com) From Ålesund Rutebilstasjon (Bus station) you can jump on one of the many buses to transport you both near and far. Especially popular are the many tours with the FRAM buses. These will take you to unique nature, and places you just have to experience. Download one of the audio-guided routes, and experience the amazing region in a new way.

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#2

Ålesund

(Photo: iStock.com) Ålesund is the largest town in Møre og Romsdal. The town is one of the world's main exporters of dried and salted cod and is internationally renowned for its characteristic architecture — a result of the catastrophic fire in 1904 which destroyed almost the entire town centre. More about this in Jugendstilsenteret. Today, Ålesund's population is growing, and is expected to surpass 50,000 inhabitants in a few years.

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#3

Main road

This is the main road in and out of Ålesund centre and consists of Aspøya and Nørvøya. Along the way, you will find the Color Line Stadion, the home ground of Aalesund Football Club.

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#4

The Norwegian Maritime Competence Centre

Ahead of us is the region’s hub for education, research, and business development, Campus Aalesund. A high school and the Ålesund campus of Norway's largest university on one side of the road, and global companies on the other side paves the way for interaction between theory and practice. NTNU has mainly a science and technology profile, a variety of programmes of professional study, and great academic breadth that also includes the humanities, social sciences, economics, medicine, health sciences, educational science, architecture, entrepreneurship, art disciplines and artistic activities. Norwegian Maritime Center of Comptetenece - NMCC - aims to be one of Norway’s most important meeting places for innovation, competence and development. NMCC cooperates with a number of organizations both inside the NMCC building and outside to create more knowledge, innovation, development, and growth in the Sunnmøre region.

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#5

Sunnmøre Museum

Sunnmøre Museum, located on the southern side of the bay, along E136, is a folk museum with exhibitions of cultural history, and a comprehensive collection of old houses and boats. Enjoy a walk among the characteristic houses and gain insight into the cultural history of Sunnmøre and old building methods. The museum documents and exhibits Sunnmøre's cultural history from The Stone Age to The Modern Era. The museum itself consists of 50 houses and 40 boats.

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#6

Ålesund Hospital

Ålesund sykehus (Ålesund Hospital), the region's largest hospital, is situated between the E136 road and the fjord. Before the current hospital was built in the 1960s, Ålesund Hospital was in an old building in downtown Ålesund. The hospital offers diagnostics, treatment, rehabilitation and care for patients in Sunnmøre. In addition, the hospital has a range of functions covering the whole county.

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#7

Amfi Moa

Do you like shopping? Then you have come to the right place. We are now at Amfi Moa, which with its 170 stores is among Norway's largest shopping centers in terms of turnover.Many well- known chain stores can be found here, as well as many unique, independent stores. The centre also has a real estate agency, a pharmacy, The Wine Monopoly and a large selection of eateries. Parking is free.

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#8

Spjelkavik

(Photo: wikipedia) Spjelkavik is a district in Ålesund which includes the areas around Spjelkavik/Moa, in addition to the residential areas of Åse, Lerstad, Olsvika and Fremmerholen. Today Spjelkavik has about 10,500 inhabitants, and is Ålesund's second largest town district. The town district is located about 10 km from the centre of Ålesund and is among the fastest-growing areas in Ålesund.

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#9

Sjøholt

We now come to the small village and the traffic hub Sjøholt, which is located where the Ørskogelva River flows into the Storfjorden. Here the traffic is distributed in all directions, whether you are going to Ålesund, Molde, Geiranger or Oslo. The popular petrol station has been a favorite stop for both large and small cars for many decades. Sjøholt has some minor industries within repairs, furniture, plastic, and wood. South of the river mouth of Ørskogelva, you will find Ørskog church, a wooden church with a rectangular basilica built in 1873.

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#10

Sunnmøre

(Photo: snl.no) This region in Møre og Romsdal is called Sunnmøre. The word Møre originates from Norse marr, 'ocean, sea', and can be interpreted as "the land by the sea". People from Sunnmøre are called sunnmøringer. Sunnmøre has about 140,000 inhabitants and covers an area of 5,234 km2. Sunnmøre's most important town is Ålesund and this is the biggest town between Bergen and Trondheim. Ålesund is the country's ninth biggest town and lies entirely on islands. Sunnmøre also has two other small towns, Ulsteinvik and Fosnavåg, and several large villages like Ørsta, Volda, Sykkylven, Hareid, Nordstrand, Stranda and Brattvåg. Many islands, long and narrow fjords, including Geirangerfjorden on UNESCO's world heritage list, and Sunnmørsalpene (The Sunnmøre Alps) dominate the landscape. This also gives rise to many nature-related activities. In the Sunnmørsalpene, it is possible to find some of the country's best alpine resorts, known as the "powder paradise". This area offers good opportunities for mountain hiking, climbing, ocean fishing, kayaking and scuba diving. The region also has a wide range of restaurants and accommodation facilities that based on the natural conditions. We recommend that you check out activities on the Visit Ålesund & Sunnmøre's website. A link is available in the app.

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#11

Håholmen

(Photo: Grete Kongshaug / Statens vegvesen) Håholmen has been a fishing village focused on klippfisk (dried and salted cod) since the early 1700s and was initially a dynamic community based on trade, fishing and maritime transport. Håholmen Sea Cottages today include a hotel, a conference centre, a café and a restaurant where guests move freely between the buildings — just like people did traditionally in vibrant fishermen's communities. Håholmen has a heritage worth preserving — this used to be a central meeting place for fishermen, sailors, salesmen and travellers. Its history and location on one of the most unsheltered parts of the Norwegian coastline adds to the unique character of the island. To a great extent, the 25 buildings have remained largely unchanged since the 18th and 19th centuries. This island of merely 50,000 m2 creates a natural separation between the open sea and the shipping lane on the outside. The landside of the island provides a beautiful natural harbour, protected from all kinds of weather. It was the adventurer Ragnar Thorseth and his wife Kari, who first came up with the idea of turning Håholmen into a hotel and conference centre. Together, they ran Håholmen until 1998. The Hall of Saga Siglar houses the Viking ship Saga Siglar, which Thorset used to circumnavigate the globe, and numerous souvenirs from this and other adventures. Exhibitions about old and recent history of Håholmen are also gathered here. The visit ends with a viewing of a film about Ragnar Thorseth's many adventures. The island is only accessible by boat. Check out the link if you want to book a hotel room, a table or just a ride across to visit the island.

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#12

Valle

Valle is a village and residential area in the Skodje municipality in Møre og Romsdal. The village has about 400 inhabitants and is located between Storfjorden and Skodjevika in Sunnmøre.

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#13

Fjellstova

We are soon passing Fjellstova on Ørskogfjellet, Which was constructed in 1966 by an industrious fellow named Peder O. Bårdsgjerde. His son Olav relates that it started as a small cafe and later expanded with cabins and rooms to accomodate larger social gatherings. Fjellstova offers a restaurant, 15 cabins and a small campsite, and is open throughout the year. This is a great starting point for several activities in the area. The landscape here is well suited for hiking and rumor has it that there are plenty of blueberries to be found. During winter you will find several cross-country trails and excellent opportunities for other alpine activities. Necessary equipment can be rented, and you can also attend a skiing school. Mountain biking, fishing or just simply enjoying Norwegian nature are other options. Golfing and horseback riding are also offered inn the area.

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#14

The Swedish border on Ørskogfjellet

Perhaps hard to believe in our time yet you are now close to where the border between Norway and Sweden was once drawn. For a short period of time toward the end of the 1650`s, the boundary was equivalent to what today separates the municipalities of Vestnes and Ørskog. The reason behind this border line was a war known as Krabbekrigen (The Crab War). It had nothing to do with crabs; it was named after the commander-in-chief of the Norwegian army in Bohuslen, Iver Krabbe. The war was fought between Denmark-Norway (Norway in those times was a part of Denmark) and Sweden. In 1658 the war came to a peaceful end. Denmark-Norway had to give up the entire Romsdal County to Sweden. Therefore the Swedish border was here - for just a couple of years -before the story took new directions.

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#15

Moldegård

(Photo: Romsdalsmuseet / Digitalt Museum, moldegaard.com) In front you now, you can see Moldegård. Originally, the estate was called Molde, supposedly from Norse "moldar", plural for "mold". Molde became the home of Captain Johan Fredrik von Beverlov, commander of the Romsdal military Company. He settled there and acquired the main farm, in approximately 1677. During his time, the suffix -gård (literally "farm") was used to differentiate between the growing town and the surrounding farms, including Reknes. Moldegård was the County Governor's house from 1705 to 1729, in addition to two short periods in the 1750s, and was supposedly the inspiration for Ibsen's 1886 drama Rosmersholm. The main farm house has been the property of the Møller family since 1789 and was registered in the cadastre of Bolsøy until the two municipalities were joined in 1964.

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#16

Shipyards Vestnes

If you happened to travel through this area around the end of the 19th century, you would have seen several shipyards along the fjord. Shipbuilding has a long tradition in Vestnes. However, most of the former companies are now just a part of the history. Hammeraas, Salthammer, Stenødegård, Helland, Ødegård, Aas, and Vestnes are names that still make people in the area think about boat construction. Boats and ships of all sizes were once constructed and built in this area. One of the first most significant Norwegian boatbuilders was Lars Jensen Hammeraas, who was responsible for the construction of one of the largest wooden ships here toward the end of the 19th century, the full rigged ship Herman Lehmkul. It was 214 feet long and as tall as a three-story house. In fact, the boat was so large that they had to reorganize the factory area in order to get enough space for the building process.

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#17

Eldhusøya

Photo: Harald Christian Eiken, Jiri Havran / Statens vegvesen The walking path around Eldhusøya island offers a splendid view. The path is suitable for everyone and is open every day, all year round. Don't let bad weather stop you since experiences in bad weather can be at least as intense as in good weather. The café is normally open during the summer season, but to be sure please check the link in the app.

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#18

Storseisundbrua

Photo: Harald Christian Eiken, Magne Flemsæter, Jiri Havran \ Statens vegvesen The Storseisund Bridge is the longest and perhaps most well-known of the 8 bridges of the Atlantic Road. The bridge is a cantilever bridge with a length of 260 metres and largest span of 130 metres. It is among the most iconic tourist attractions in Norway, and is frequently used in commercials, films, etc. The BBC's popular series Top Gear has also filmed an episode on this bridge and the Atlantic Road.

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#19

The Tresfjord Bridge

(Photo: Vidar Moløkken) When Prime Minister Erna Solberg opened Tresfjordbrua on October 24th, 2015, a large public party was arranged. For a long time residents and travelers had looked forward to this bridge to be completed. The opening took place during what the local residents call «a good break», an expression for the interval between the area`s numerous rain showers. People were enjoying themselves by cycling and walking across the bridge in pleasant spring weather during the hours leading up to the official opening. Many brought flags to celebrate this significant day. The Prime Minister was pleased that the drive was cut short by 40 minutes on her commute to visit family in Ålesund. Applause from some 2,000 attendants indicated that she was not alone in her joy. The most important aspect for the locals of course is the greater safety and mobility afforded to pedestrians and drivers alike by this new bridge in the area. The bridge’s construction, with its 1290 meters length, amounted to a price of 1.1 billion kroner. The mast of your boat can reach 30 metres up in the air before the boat is in danger of getting its mast shortened. The Tresfjord bridge is the longest road bridge in Møre og Romsdal and was the 6th longest in the country when it was finished.

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#20

Atlantic road

Photo: Jarle Wæhler / Statens vegvesen The Atlantic Road runs along a stretch of sea at the very edge of the Atlantic Ocean, offering a scenic drive across the many bridges and islands. Often described as the world's most beautiful road trip, this section of County Road 64 is part of the National Tourist Route stretching from Vevang in Eide to Kårvåg on Averøy. The construction of the Atlantic Road began in 1983 and was completed in the summer of 1989. In 2005 it was voted Construction of the 20th Century. The road replaced the ferry route between Ørjavik and Tøvik which until then had connected the two municipalities. The entire installation, more than 8 km long and consisting of eight bridges with a combined length of 891 metres, runs across multiple islets and reefs. The Atlantic Road ranks number 8 of the most visited nature-based tourist attractions in the country, with several hundred thousand visitors each year. The road has also been the setting for numerous commercials, and several car producers — among which Lamborghini — have filmed commercials here to promote their latest models. The entire National Tourist Route called the Atlantic Road is 36 km long and connects Kårvåg to Bud. The road offers a unique experience with its breathtaking coastline and original design, both of the road itself, the bridges and multiple installations along the way. This place is equally spectacular to visit in inclement and windy weather, as it is on a bright and sunny day. Look west, towards the vast open sea and Hustadvika, a stretch of the Norwegian Sea known for its many reefs and dramatic climate. In calmer weather, it is possible to spot both seals and whales in the area. Between Vevang and Bud, southeast of the Atlantic Road, experience the lush coastal landscape with heaths and bare rocks along the unsheltered and open coastline of Hustadvika. The experience is intense and provides an insight into a region exposed to many different types of weather: here you risk facing strong winds, or – when the weather is good – a sunset that will leave a lasting impression on your mind.

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#21

Vestnes

(Photo: Ø. Leren, wikipedia) Vestnes is the center of administration in the municipality of Vestnes in Møre og Romsdal. The village is located west of the mouth of Tresfjorden, on both sides of Vestnesstraumen, which leads from the Tresfjord into the Flatevågen Bay. It features much commercial activity in both the service and construction sectors, shipyards and a maritime museum. The village has a speedboat connection to Vikebukt, Sekken and Molde. From Furneset, some three kilometres north of the village, you can reach Molde with the ferry.

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#22

Vestnes Church

Vestnes Church is located in Vestnes parish within the Indre Romsdal diocese. The first church mentioned in this area dates back to 1589. According to official antiquarian authority this was originally a Norwegian stave church. The original wooden church was torn down and a new one erected in 1682. The beautiful building you can see today was completed in 1872. On the altar you will find a crucifixion far older than the church. It dates back to 1639. The church is a so-called aisleless “long church”, typical for Norway, with 480 seats. The church’s architects were J. W. Nordan and Anders Johnsen Berg from Levanger.

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#23

Myrbærholmbrua

Photo: Jarle Wæhler / Statens vegvesen The Myrbærholm Bridge connects Skarvøya to Eldhusøya via Flatskjæret. In 2010, bridges specially dedicated to fishing opened on Myrbærholmen. From these you could try to catch some fish from the famous Atlantic Road. Unfortunately, there is no option to rent fishing gear here at the moment, so you would need to bring your own. Or you could watch other people fish here. In the strong tidal currents, there is a good chance of catching cod, pollock, mackerel and saithe from the clear waters.

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#24

Skarvøya

(Drawing: Ragnhild Folland) You are now on Skarvøya island. Together with Strømsholmen islet, this is the most southwesterly island on the Atlantic Road. Here you will find Gallery Skarvøya with a small café — a perfect pit stop to stretch your legs and admire the view.

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#25

Strømsholmen Seasport Center

Photo: stromsholmen.no Strømsholmen Sjøsportsenter (Strømsholmen Sea Sports Centre), is a place for adventures above and below the water. Since 1981, the professional dive center Strømsholmen offered a unique blend of thrilling adventures to visitors from around the world. The Sea Sports Centre is situated on the Atlantic Road and offers accommodation, fishing, diving, seal safaris, sightseeing tours etc.

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#26

Årø Airport

(Photo: fjordnorway.com) Molde’s airport Årø was financed by the Molde municipality and inaugurated in 1972. A lengthy discussion whether there should be a common airport for Romsdal and Nordmøre ended with the development of two airports, one in Molde, the other in Kristiansund. Årø serves more than 500,000 passengers annually. Fylkesvei 64 goes through the Fannefjord tunnel just under the runway. Over time the airport has undergone a series of improvements to meet the needs of both leisure and business travelers. The largest development was the extension of the runway from 1601 to 1980 meters. The additional runway was added during summer 2008.

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#27

Malme

The village Malme has about 500 inhabitants located at the end of Malmefjorden, the innermost part of Frænfjorden. The village has a significant production facility for refrigeration systems used in industry, fishing, and aquaculture. The name Malme comes from the Norse name "Malmr", which means 'sandy moor' or 'gravel field'. The fjord is a favorite place for ice skating fans. As the fjord freezes over during winter, it turns into a fantastic skating rink which extends for several kilometers. When conditions are safe, it is possible to spend many hours on the ice and enjoy both nature and the food you bring along for a nice day out.

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#28

Sylte

The village Sylte has just a little over 300 inhabitants. It is located next to Sylteelva about six kilometers east of the city center of Elnesvågen (Fræna municipality). Here you will find a residential area surrounded by farmland looking down toward Sylteosen and Fræneide, and a shieling cottage up toward Kvannfjellet, the highest mountain in Fræna municipality. Sylte has its own elementary school, linked with Malme School, four kilometres away. First to fourth graders attend Sylte School, while fifth to seventh graders go to Malme School. Sylteelva is a popular destination for anglers.

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#29

Bergtatt adventures

(Photo: fjordnorway.com) We are now not far away from a 40 km system of mining tunnels that penetrate Bergtatt mountain on eleven levels. The mining operations started here in 1938, providing marble for the paper industry in Norway and Sweden. A few years ago the idea arose to open parts of the mountain as a tourist attraction. Within a short time this plan was implented. Bergtatt, also called «Fjellets mørke – the darkness of the mountain» - is already a reality. A trip to Bergtatt begins in daylight as you travel up the mountain side. When you reach the entrance to the mine, the road disappears into the big tunnel leading you further inward. For a while you will be surrounded by darkness before you get a glimpse of distant light. You can then board a barge resting on water that is glass-clear. As you proceed it gets darker before something lights up in front of you. Then quite suddenly four large chandeliers illuminate the marbled walls of a troll cave with plenty of space for both audience and artists. You are guaranteed to have an unforgettable experience at Bergtatt.

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#30

Eide Church

(Photo: Visit Norway) Eide Church is an aisleless “long church” completed in 1871. It is a wooden building with seats for 340 people. The church organ was made in Norway by Norsk Orgel og Harmoniumfabrikk. The organ’s pipes have sounded since 1977. The chimes of the church bells are much older. They started ringing in 1871. Then as now entrepreneurs understand the value of sponsoring – an inscription in one of the bells says: „Given by Kristiansund Sparebank 1871“. Around 3500 people live in this church’s parish.

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#31

Eide Stone industry

(Photo: Gunn K. M. Skotheim) Here, between the open sea and the high mountains, lies idyllic Eide, roughly midway between the towns of Molde and Kristiansund. The settlement was called Nordic rock territorNordic rock territory", when Eide had its own municipal status. Mining and stone masonry have long traditions and are significant to the area industry. The largest section of the Norwegian stone-processing industry is located here. Workshops and carpentry are important industries as well. Modern retail establishments and a well-developed public sector serve the community. A fare number are also employed in agriculture and fishing. The area offers various exciting nature experiences, for example Hustadvika, one of Norway's most wild and beautiful coastal strips. The Atlantic Road is an attraction itself. A great experience both in stormy weather and sunshine. Connected through eight bridges, this spectacular road stretches along the coastal landscape.

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#32

Solnør Golf Course

Solnør is the name of a farm in Skodje known since the Middle Ages; records show it belonged to the Giskegodset. The manor house was erected by Louis Daae in 1820 and has been declared a protected structure. Today the surrounding land is used as a golf course. A clubhouse for the members of Ålesund Golf Club has been added. According to the golf club's website, the course has 18 challenging holes. When Henrik Ibsen visited his wife’s relatives at Solnør in the summer of 1862, it is unlikely he came to play golf, but then the place may have inspired his famous piece Rosmersholm. Moldegård in Molde, however, also claims this distinction.

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#33

Visnes Chalk

(Photo: kommunenvar.no) The big limestone quarry Visnes Kalk AS makes it their business to refine a type of marble known for its white color and high lime content. The founder of the company, Iver R. Eide, grew up at Eide. At the age of 18, he traveled to Hamar where he trained to become a mason. He later worked as a mason for the regional railroad company. When Ålesund burned down in 1904, it was decided that the city should be rebuilt with non-flammable material. This was an excellent windfall of opportunity for Iver Eide and his group of masons to work in Ålesund. Iver Eide learned that there were significant resources of both white and colored marble on Visnes in Eide. This area was close to the sea with good harbor conditions as well. Iver entered into contracts with all the land owners in the area and secured delivery of cut stone. That's how the stone industry started in Eide – all because of the Ålesund fire in 1904! Stone blocks from Visnes were cut for several large marble buildings in the area. Ålesund church, Rønneberggården in Ålesund and Bondeheimen in Trondheim are some of them. Nowadays calcite from Visnes is still widely used as a construction material as well as in the paper industry, as an abrasive, in agriculture, as a pigment, in pharmaceutics and sandblasting. Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was sandblasted with marble from Visnes as this particular marble's soft structure minimizes damage to the underlying original but is strong enough to clean surface contamination.

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#34

Digerneset

Digerneset is a large business area of some 400,000 square meters, located in the municipality of Skodje, close to europavei 136. The area is clear proof not only faith moves mountains. Money also provides such opportunities. Before the area was developed, some 2,000,000 cubic metres of stone (about 16 times the amount of stone the mountain Mannen in Rauma County would yield were it to collapse) were moved there to prepare the land for expansive construction to accomodate the large number of companies moving in. The name Digerneset stems from the former agricultural land situated further down the fjord. The farm there used to play an important role in the area’s cultivation but is now no longer operating.

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#35

Gautvik stone industry

Gautvik Steinindustri was started in 1935 by the brothers Alfred and John Gautvik. The company is one of the oldest stone quarries in the country. Raw material used in the local stone production is imported from India, Africa, Italy, Spain, Finland and Sweden. Stone from the mountains of Norway is also used; primarily natural stone from the regions around Larvik, Støren, Fauske, Otta, Oppdal and Alta. In addition to the production of gravestones, they specialize in the design and manufacturing of counter tops. The company has invested a great deal in order to stay at the forefront of their industry. Their speciality is employing a mix of modern technology along with experience and traditional craftsmanship.

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#36

Håkon Sigurdsson Herdebrei

Herdebrei means “wide shoulder” - was a very young king in Norway from 1159 until he died at 15 years of age. After his father Sigurd and his uncle Øystein Haraldsson were killed by the third brother Inge Krokrygg (Inge Hookback), young Håkon was proclaimed king at the Øretinget in 1159, by the followers of Sigurd and Øystein. With Håkon as king they continued a bitter fight against Inge Krokrygg. In the end, young Håkon Herdebrei`s army was victorious and he was celebrated as king at Øretinget. He was too young though for the great task given. Håkon is referred to as a handsome man, tall and athletic with broad shoulders. Near Veøy and Sekken, Håkon had to fight in a dramatic naval battle that determined his fate. It was a violent engagement; in the confusion, Håkon saved himself on board… a wrong ship. There he was killed against promises to the contrary. For Erling Skakke (Erling the Lopsided) it was very convenient that the rival to his son Magnus was thus removed. Håkon`s body was first taken on shore in Romsdalen and buried there, according to Snorre`s Saga. Later the body was transported to Kaupangen in Trøndelag and buried in the stone wall in the Church of Christ. In modern times monuments were erected at Sekken and Veøy, in memory of the dramatic battle. Every year at Sekken, the «Herdebreimarsjen», a commemorative walk, is arranged in memory of Håkon Herdebrei.

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#37

Vevang

Vevang is a small village located by the Atlantic Road - next to the ocean. Vevang has its name since pre-Christian times and consists of "ve"meaning "sanctuary" or "holy place" and "vang"“, which means field. Several marked rocks and graves dating back to the newer Stone Age were discovered here. The village also features a number of bunkers from the Second World War when the Nazis occupied Norway. Among the islets and reefs at Vevang you can find a 90 meter long marble installation. The man behind the artwork, Jan Freuchen, named his sculpture "Columna Transantlantica" - the Transatlantic Column. The artwork consists of 39 parts spread around the landscape. This somewhat controversial work of art resembling the shape of a worm is made of real Italian marble. The artwork curves along the terrain and stretches out towards the open sea by the Atlantic Highway.

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#38

Molde Coat of Arms

The water blowing whale in the city's coat of arms alludes to a fortuitous legend. 1739 was a catastrophic year for the farmers in Romsdal county and food supplies in winter were depleted. City records recount that it was an "extremely cruel winter“. In April 1740, the county governor warned about a high risk of famine. In the summer he announced that "an incredible number of cattle are diseased or dead”. Most of the agricultural land no longer yielded any grain and less than half of the land was sown. In August winter had already begun. Cold, frost and deep snow marked the landscape and Denmark was asked to provide grain at a reasonable price. These dire conditions lasted for three consecutive years, and the grain that came from Denmark was not enough to keep famine away. What prevented further catastrophe was the herring fish: exceptionally good fishing at the time kept the local people from starving. The locals believed that it was the whale that had driven herring into the fjords. Usually, the whales remained 100-120 km from shore. Thus, the Molde coat of arms alludes both to salvation from famine and is the symbol of happiness and prosperity for the city.

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Ålesund - Molde & the Atlantic Road (round trip)

Points of interest

#1

Ålesund Rutebilstasjon

#2

Ålesund

#3

Main road

#4

The Norwegian Maritime Competence Centre

#5

Sunnmøre Museum

#6

Ålesund Hospital

#7

Amfi Moa

#8

Spjelkavik

#9

Sjøholt

#10

Sunnmøre

#11

Håholmen

#12

Valle

#13

Fjellstova

#14

The Swedish border on Ørskogfjellet

#15

Moldegård

#16

Shipyards Vestnes

#17

Eldhusøya

#18

Storseisundbrua

#19

The Tresfjord Bridge

#20

Atlantic road

#21

Vestnes

#22

Vestnes Church

#23

Myrbærholmbrua

#24

Skarvøya

#25

Strømsholmen Seasport Center

#26

Årø Airport

#27

Malme

#28

Sylte

#29

Bergtatt adventures

#30

Eide Church

#31

Eide Stone industry

#32

Solnør Golf Course

#33

Visnes Chalk

#34

Digerneset

#35

Gautvik stone industry

#36

Håkon Sigurdsson Herdebrei

#37

Vevang

#38

Molde Coat of Arms

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Points of interest