Aksla is the town mountain of Ålesund. It is only 180 metres above sea level, but from the top you get a near 270-degree view over the town, the islands, the fjords, and the Sunnmøre Alps. It is one of the most photographed viewpoints in all of Norway.
The classic way up is the 418 stone steps from Byparken, the town park. Be aware that the climb actually starts before the steps do, as the path through the park is already quite steep. Most people take about 15 to 20 minutes. There are benches along the way, and some of the steps are numbered so you can track your progress. You can also drive to the top, or take the small tourist train from the cruise terminal.
At the top sits Fjellstua, Ålesund's oldest restaurant. It was built in November 1903 by a shoemaker named Knut Gregorius Lied, who saw an opportunity to serve food to visitors on the mountaintop. Just two months later, on the 23rd of January 1904, the great fire destroyed almost the entire town below. Lied and others fought to keep the flames from reaching the new building, and they succeeded. But his own house in town was gone. So he moved his wife and eight children up to Fjellstua and they lived there. The children walked down to school in town every day.
Today Fjellstua welcomes around 300,000 visitors a year. That became a problem. On busy cruise ship days, hundreds of people would crowd the terrace, take their photos and leave without buying anything. The restaurant eventually had to introduce an entrance fee of 100 kroner for non-dining visitors just to manage the flow. So if you want to skip the fee, simply order a coffee or an ice cream and sit down to enjoy the view properly.
If you continue past the restaurant along the ridge, you will find remains of German bunkers from the Second World War. The Germans used Aksla for military fortifications during the occupation. Ålesund was so active in the resistance that the Gestapo nicknamed it "Little London".
Down in the park before you start climbing, look for the statue of Rollo the Viking. It was a gift from the city of Rouen in France in 1911. Rollo, who is believed to have come from nearby Giske, conquered Normandy in 911 and became an ancestor of William the Conqueror.
The classic way up is the 418 stone steps from Byparken, the town park. Be aware that the climb actually starts before the steps do, as the path through the park is already quite steep. Most people take about 15 to 20 minutes. There are benches along the way, and some of the steps are numbered so you can track your progress. You can also drive to the top, or take the small tourist train from the cruise terminal.
At the top sits Fjellstua, Ålesund's oldest restaurant. It was built in November 1903 by a shoemaker named Knut Gregorius Lied, who saw an opportunity to serve food to visitors on the mountaintop. Just two months later, on the 23rd of January 1904, the great fire destroyed almost the entire town below. Lied and others fought to keep the flames from reaching the new building, and they succeeded. But his own house in town was gone. So he moved his wife and eight children up to Fjellstua and they lived there. The children walked down to school in town every day.
Today Fjellstua welcomes around 300,000 visitors a year. That became a problem. On busy cruise ship days, hundreds of people would crowd the terrace, take their photos and leave without buying anything. The restaurant eventually had to introduce an entrance fee of 100 kroner for non-dining visitors just to manage the flow. So if you want to skip the fee, simply order a coffee or an ice cream and sit down to enjoy the view properly.
If you continue past the restaurant along the ridge, you will find remains of German bunkers from the Second World War. The Germans used Aksla for military fortifications during the occupation. Ålesund was so active in the resistance that the Gestapo nicknamed it "Little London".
Down in the park before you start climbing, look for the statue of Rollo the Viking. It was a gift from the city of Rouen in France in 1911. Rollo, who is believed to have come from nearby Giske, conquered Normandy in 911 and became an ancestor of William the Conqueror.