Enchanting Ålesund

Since editing Carter Walker's article on Ålesund for the Viking travel issue, I'm seeing mentions of the city everywhere. For example, I came across a link in the Huffington Post, featuring 10 Hotels in the Most Unlikely of Places. Among the list was Ålesund's cozy Molja Lighthouse, which Walker also highlights in Viking. Accommodations in the 150-year-old lighthouse can be booked as room 47 of the Hotel Brosundet, which—if their website is any indication—appears to be an appealing destination in and of itself.

I also came across a program on NRK's website called "Norsk Attraksjon" (Norwegian Attractions), a slightly off-beat travel show featuring interesting sites and travel destinations around Norway. One episode called "Huset som ikkje brann" (The House that Didn't Burn) features an old wooden building in the center of Ålesund that was spared in the 1904 fire that destroyed most of the city. According to local legend, the owner of the house was warned by an angel prior to the fire. The program doesn't include subtitles, but it does offer some footage of the city and an entertaining reenactment of the event.

If Walker's article inspires you to plan your own adventure in Ålesund, check out the wealth of information found on the city and its surrounding area on VisitNorway.com. You'll find expert advice on how to get there, what to do, and where to eat, shop and sleep.

Amy Boxrud is editor of Viking magazine. She lives with her family in Northfield, Minn., where she’s a member of Nordmarka 1-585.