Day 154 – Ålesund, Norway

After a rough night at sea, Viking Sky docked this morning in Ålesund, Norway. It had snowed yesterday, and I saw evidence of the fresh snow on the neighboring mountains before they were obscured by fog. It was still foggy, windy, and cold when I left the ship, and there was even a bit of “frozen rain” falling as I made my way to the motorcoach.

Since I wanted to see the beautiful Norwegian countryside, I set out on the “Ålesund's Magnificent Mountains & Fjords” optional excursion, described this way:

Discover wild mountains and roaring waterfalls on this thrilling excursion into Norway's magnificent natural world. After a drive through the art nouveau splendor of Ålesund, follow the Norddalsfjord to the fairy-tale valley of Valldal, known for its strawberry production. Ascend to the spectacular Gudbrand Gorge, carved by the foaming river far below, for a short photo stop. Next, drive up the magnificent valley towards the Trollstigen viewpoint. Here, enjoy free time to explore and marvel at the spectacular scene of towering mountains and a lush valley, and glimpse the winding Trollstigen Road, a National Tourist Route since 1936. Continue through this scenic mountainous landscape back to Valldal. Pause for lunch at a local restaurant before continuing along the Storfjord, passing through its bucolic countryside of farms and villages before returning to your ship.

Ålesund is a port city that is spread over several islands that stretch into the Atlantic. Unlike Bergen and most Norwegian cities that are known for their traditional wooden houses, Ålesund is an anomaly. Following a catastrophic fire in 1904 that destroyed much of the city, Ålesund was rebuilt in the then-popular Art Nouveau style, and we were able to see a few examples during a quick drive through the downtown area.

Typical Buildings in Ålesund 

Because of a recent storm and adverse weather conditions, the Trollstigen Road and surrounding area were closed, necessitating a change to our itinerary. We were promised that this part of the excursion would be replaced by another scenic drive, and it certainly was. It seems like all drives in this part of Norway are scenic.

We left the city behind and began to follow the Storfjord, the fifth longest fjord in Norway. Norway’s western fjords are world-famous and were carved out of rugged coastal mountains, creating a spectacular panorama. Storfjord is Norway’s Great Fjord, and the views towards the lush green forests and snowcapped mountain peaks were breathtaking. Even the cloudy skies could not detract from the beauty of the landscape.

Scenes Along the Storfjord 

The Beautiful Storfjord 

We stopped for a short break in Sjøholt, a town on the Storfjord that is surrounded by towering mountains. We had time to walk around the Ørskog Church, also called Storfjords Cathedral, a long church that was built in 1873. After the medieval stave churches, like the one I saw in Bergen, became too small for their growing populations, the long church became the most common type of church in Norway, featuring a rectangular plan with the nave and choir equal in width.

Ørskog Church and Buildings Along the Fjord

This part of Norway has been inhabited since the time of the Vikings, and we passed many farms, with their white houses, red barns, and sheep grazing in the green fields, all of which added to the scenic beauty of the countryside.

Traditional Farms Along the Fjord

I've Run Out of Adjectives to Adequately Describe the Gorgeous Scenery

We drove partway up a mountain to visit the Gudbrand Gorge, a very narrow and high ravine through which the Valldøla River forces itself. The waterfall was quite powerful, but difficult to capture in a photo.

Gudbrand Gorge

We retraced our drive to the village of Valldal, where we enjoyed a delicious Norwegian lunch and a walk along the fjord. Valldal is known for its sweet strawberries, as well as for the many activities that take off from here. Kayaks were being prepped for a launch.

More Beautiful Scenery

Some People Admire the Scenery of the Storfjord in a Kayak 

As we made our way back to the ship, I continued to be entranced by the spectacular scenery, including more farms and a few small villages. We even saw a traditional octagonal church, another popular church type from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

An Octagonal Church (top left) and Other Traditional Norwegian Architecture

As we approached Ålesund, we followed the harbor and saw more of the city’s Art Nouveau buildings.

Along the Harbor in Ålesund

We were so fortunate that the overcast and chilly morning turned into another beautiful day. The weather has been so amazing on this cruise.