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Photo: Kenneth Spadberg/Foap/Visitnorway.com Åndalsnes - Vestnes - Molde - Sølsnes - Åndalsnes This trip takes you from Åndalsnes to Molde, a charming town beautifully situated by the fjord. The town is famous for its view towards the “Molde Panorama”, the impressive row of mountains on the other side of the fjord. Located between sea and mountains and with a short distance from the one to the other, you can explore the fjord, the town center and the mountains behind the town in a short time. In the summer, the town lives up to its name “Town of roses”, and in July the famous Molde International Jazz Festival takes place. From Åndalsnes, the bus goes along the Romsdalsfjord to Vestnes. From Vestnes you take a bus and ferry to Molde (the bus goes on the ferry) where you have plenty of time to explore the town on your own before the return to Åndalsnes by bus via Sølsnes. https://fram.trekksoft.com/en_GB/activity/58717/aandalsnes-molde-aandalsnes
Here, surrounded by majestic mountains, deep and lush valleys and emerald green rivers, lies Åndalsnes, or Tindebyen which is full of spectacular experiences. The town was also at the centre of one of the second world war’s largest battles, during which the whole of Norway’s gold reserve was at stake. In dramatic fashion, Norwegian and English soldiers together with hundreds of heroic volunteers managed to save the Norwegian gold and cash reserves, whilst howling German bombs squealed around them leaving the whole town in ruins. Both the town and the steadfast people rose up again and to this day exist as a hub between the fantastic Norwegian mountain experiences both in Summer and Wintertime. The idyllic fjord centre has all you need and more. We recommend the spectacular walk up the Romsdalstrappene to the Rampestreken viewpoint, which literally hangs out 8 meters in the air, giving you an eagle’s eye view over Åndalsnes and the beautiful Romasdal fjord. On your way down again we recommend taking the award winning Romsdal Gondola for all of you without a fear of heights. And if you should hear some rough guitar riffs or some banging dance tunes, then maybe Raumarock or another of Åndalsnes’ famous music festivals is taking place.
For as long as people have lived here, they have had to cross over the fjord to do errands, conduct business, and visit their relatives and friends. The fjords were the main thoroughfares in the past, and boats of different sizes were the means of transport. As vehicles became more common, car ferries came into use. Commercial, private and tourist traffic have increased over the years. Ferry transport is no longer a sufficient option on some fjord routes, so in recent years both bridges and tunnels have been built. The Fannefjord tunnel on the FV 64 road goes under Fannefjord near Årø, between Molde and Bolsøya. At its deepest, the tunnel sinks to 101 metres below sea level. It is 2743 metres long and its steepest gradient is 10%. The tunnel was opened as a toll road in 1991, and financing of the costs was covered by 2005. The tunnel is part of Skålavegen (Skåla Road), which was a replacement for the ferry routes Molde-Bolsøya and Lønset-Grønnes.
Between Bolsøya and Grønneset, on the mainland, the Bolsøy Bridge crosses Bolsøysundet. The bridge was opened in 1991 as part of Skålavegen (Skåla Road). This is a 555 metre-high concrete beam bridge. It has 11 spans, the longest of which is 55 metres. The maximum clearance height from the sea is 16 metres. What is the view from the bridge on a clear day? To the south, you can see the majestic Romsdalsfjella and to the north, Fannefjord. Driving across the bridge can be tough if there is heavy wind and rainfall. It has become popular to dive at the Bolsøy Bridge, especially at night, because the marine wildlife is more abundant at night than during the day. Here you can see pollack, cod and eel, as well as eight-armed squid, sea sausages, crayfish and lobsters. Dead man's fingers grow underwater on the bridge pillars. The current can be strong here in the channel. A song was written about the Bolsøysund Bridge in 1994. The lyrics are by Leif Bjarne Fylling, who was from Grønnes. There four verses, but the last verse contains the line: "There is a bridge over Bolsøysundet where stormy waters often flow, it is a tie that binds the new to the olden days."
Røvik Church is located in Røvik on the Skåla Peninsula. The church was inaugurated in 1905. This is a long Swiss-style church, a typical style for the period. It has seating for 280 people. The architect was Gabriel Smith, who also designed Røbekk church. Bolsøy parish was divided in 1896, and Røvik became a parish in its own right. Until 1905, the old church on Bolsøya was the parish church. But from then on Røvik church became the parish church, and the church on Bolsøya was demolished in 1907. The inventory from the old Bolsøy church was transferred to Røvik church. The items that were moved included an altarpiece, baptismal font, pulpit and church bells. The altarpiece was carved by a local artist in 1730. The architecture of this church is in an updated style from the early 1900s, but the church interior has retained its traditional form.
Åndalsnes has been a port for cruise ships since 1883, attracting tourists interested in salmon fishing and rock climbing and drawn by the magnificent views. Over time, tourism grew and the need for more accommodation became pressing. The Grand Hotel was built in 1890; by this stage, tourism was already an important industry here. Guests can still soak up the historic atmosphere of the hotel, even though it has been revamped and rebuilt at several stages. There are historical photographs on display on all floors of the hotel, and some of the rooms are decorated with wall-sized photographs from days gone by. There are also photographs of celebrity guests who have stayed here. Åndalsnes was bombed in 1940 and the hotel was burnt down. It was later rebuilt, and stands in about the same location as it was originally. The hotel currently has 86 rooms. The views from the hotel, which is located in the center of Åndalsnes, are breathtaking.
The old church on Veøy is located in Veøy and Røvik parish in the municipality of Molde. This church is also called St. Peter's Church, because it was dedicated to St. Peter. The building is a medieval church built in stone. It was built around the year 1200 and it is a listed building. The earliest written record of Veøy old church is in a will from 1309. The church is a ‘langkirke’ (long church) with seating for 400 people. The name Veøy itself means ‘holy island’. During the Viking era, Veøy was a market town - a trading center - and Veøy was an important hub in Romsdalen until the late 1600s. Veøy church has been a county church for the entire area, and it served as a parish church until 1907. The church is built in Romanesque style with round arches. Both exterior and interior walls are whitewashed. The interior dates from the 17th century, and at that time Veøy old church had income from 88 farms and was considered one of the richest churches in Norway. This church provided funds for the restoration of Nidaros Cathedral. The parsonage dates from 1742 and is also listed. Veøy is one of the key stages along the coastal pilgrimage trail from Egersund to Trondheim. There is a guided tour in cooperation with Romsdal Museum each summer.
As a child, and again as a pensioner, this was the home of the now largely forgotten Norwegian adventurer, businessman and consul Jonas Marius Lied. He lived from 1881 to 1969 and was a diplomat and an industrial entrepreneur. He was a collector of Russian art, and at Lied's family farm one can see art treasures from the Tsarist era in Russia. His life was, to put it mildly, an adventurous one, and from 1910 to 1931 he was involved in various enterprises in the USSR/Russia. Lied had one main project: The Siberian Company, founded in Oslo in 1912. He opened an Arctic sea route between Western Europe, via the Arctic Ocean and Asian Russia, to the interior of Siberia. Success was assured when Fridtjof Nansen agreed in 1913 to participate in Lied's second expedition from Tromsø to Siberia. Nansen portrayed this journey in his book ‘Through Siberia’. But the company's property was confiscated by the Bolsheviks in 1918. From 1914, Lied was Norwegian consul in Krasnoyarsk, and was named ‘hereditary Russian citizen of honor’ by Tsar Nicolas II. Lied then settled in London, but in 1920 he returned to the Soviet Union, this time as an international businessman. In the 1920s he bought many Russian paintings and prints. He worked as Senior Vice President of the Canadian company, Aluminum Union Limited, until he retired to Romsdal on retirement. He wrote two books about his dramatic life – ‘Over the High Mountains’ and ‘Birth of A Sea Road’.
Veøy church, situated by the bend near Sølsnes Ferry Quay, is a ‘long church’ in wood, and it was erected in 1907. Many such churches were built in the early 1900s. The church is a long dragon-style church. ‘Langkirke’ means that the main room is large, while the trancepts have a lower ceiling height in relation to the nave. The dragon style was an architectural design intended to express national independence and uniqueness. This was important in the years following Norway's liberation from Sweden in 1905. The church is built of notched beams with a panelled exterior. The church is painted red, but most churches from this period are white-painted. Inside, the colours are light ochre with darker browns on the skirting boards and moldings. There is seating for 212 people in the church. The architect was Karl Norum.
Vardholmen is located just north of Bolsøya. It is an old court where death sentences were carried out. The last execution in Norway was in 1876. In the 18th century, the death sentence was commonly applied in cases of the killing of children born out of wedlock. Here in Romsdal are recorded several such judgments from about 1780. But before those convicted were executed, they were often tortured. They were mutilated with glowing tongs, and had their arms and legs cut off before being beheaded with an axe. After death, the corpses were affixed to wheels, and these wheels were put on stakes and then exhibited for a long time to terrify and warn people passing by. Vardholmen was a court in 1777 when Anne Echerhagen was executed by beheading here. She had killed her husband in 1775, but as she was pregnant, they had to wait until the innocent child was born before they could execute Anne. She was convicted of having added arsenic to her husband's liquor, which, unsurprisingly, killed him. Before the execution itself, she was tortured and had her right hand cut off. After the execution, both her head and her hand were put on a stake. The remains of Anne Echerhagen were on display for a long time at Vardholmen.
Rødven Stave Church is a medieval stave church at the Rødven farm. There are only two medieval churches in Romsdal today, at Veøy and Rødven. When Rødven Stave Church was built is somewhat uncertain, but experts believe it dates from around the year 1300. Inside the church there is a crucifix in actual body size, and this has been dated to the latter part of the 13th century. Rødven stave church is supported by eight posts. There are weatherboards on the exterior and the roof is of stone today, making the church untypical among Norway's most famous stave churches. But once inside, one can clearly see that this is a stave church. One can see the characteristic features of stave construction, with posts and beams forming frames that are filled in with upright planks. There are also runes inscribed in the woodwork, which say: ‘Øystein wrote. To God I will’. The decorations inside the church were probably made in the first half of the 17th century. The altarpiece and pulpit are from 1712. The church has been restored repeatedly after suffering damage by storms and woodpeckers. It was in use until 1907. The following year, it became a listed monument. Today, the church is used for special occasions such as baptisms and weddings.
Norsk Tindesenter attracts mountain climbers and regular tourists alike. Its main focus is on Norway's mountaineering history. Inside the center, you can start your visit with a cinematic experience allowing for floor-to-ceiling movie viewing. Here, stunning trekking films combined with short historical narratives take you on an exciting adventure trip. The center has a number of interesting installations showing different aspects of the climbing sport, and the driving forces motivating mountaineers. Both children and adults are invited to learn and participate interactively. Real stories have been dramatized and old equipment displayed alongside so you can study the challenges of the climbing pioneers. If you feel up to it, you can test your own climbing skills. Norway's highest indoor climbing wall – Carl's Hall – is here at Norsk Tindesenter. It has routes up to 21 meters. Norsk Tindesenter also has its own children's bouldering cave suitable for children from 3 years of age and upwards.
The Sølsnes - Åfarnes ferry route was opened for car traffic in 1931. At that time, the ferry took only 4-5 passenger cars at a time, and one had to book in advance as there was not yet a regular timetable here. In the 1930s, about 1,000 cars were transported each year. During the occupation of 1940-1945 the ferry was out of commission. Today, this crossing is much busier, and right here is where the world's first gas-powered ferry was taken into use. This ferry route also had an important role to play in WWII. Norway's gold reserves of 49 tonnes were transported from The Bank of Norway in Oslo to Dombås and down Romsdalen valley to the Romsdal coast. At Åndalsnes, the gold was loaded from railway wagons onto lorries. The gold was headed for Molde for further transportation, out of Norway and into safe hands. This involved a dramatic race against time, as the Germans were not far behind the lorry convoy, bombing several cities, towns and quay areas in the area. The lorries with the gold had to get up a very steep hill from the quay at Sølsnes, as the quay was a few metres further west of its present location. The situation was made more dramatic by the fact that the ferries could not take many lorries at a time. Two ferries were requisitioned, and it took six hours to transport all of the lorries across. The ferries had to go back and forth countless times. The happy result was that Norway's gold holdings were saved, taken via England to the USA and Canada.
Isfjorden is often referred to as the cradle of the fashion industry in Norway. Here, production of ready-made clothing was already happening in the 1860s, quite uniquely for that time. Trondheim and Bergen had lost their exclusive right to trade in Northern Norway at the beginning of the 19th century, which opened up the market to other districts. The inhabitants of Isfjorden seized their chance. They began selling ready-made clothing and shoes to fishermen along the coast. This trade became known as Nordlandhandel (Nordland trade). It started with small factories and workshops, but eventually larger factories grew, and the clothing industry flourished. One of the pioneers of the industry was Knut Mestad Hatlen. Another well-known clothing factory was Oddfred Tokle's, which operated from 1938 to 1982. The Nordland trade laid the foundation for the development of the clothing industry in Romsdal, and it became important in a national context as well. Around 1950, 55% of the workforce in the Isfjorden worked in clothes production. Why did this industry flourish right here? There are several reasons. There were raw materials, such as wool and leather; labour was available, together with long experience and professional knowledge; and there were people with enough capital to invest. The geographical location was favourable for transporting goods both south and north by sea, and to eastern Norway across the mountains. In April 1940, the factories in Isdalen managed to quickly switch production to large quantities of white camouflage clothing for Norwegian soldiers, who were fighting against German invasion.
Bolsøy was an important farm in the Iron Age and the Middle Ages. The obelisk ‘Trollpila’ on the farm is visible evidence of that. Such standing stones were often to be found on large, central farms. This farm early on became a church site in the Middle Ages, which in itself indicates that a prominent family lived here. Trollpila is about five meters long, narrow and thin and resembles a large arrow. The stone is one of Norway's tallest standing stones. There is a legend attached to Trollpila, which the playwright Henrik Ibsen recorded. The legend says that Olav the Saint anchored his ships at Bolsøya. He thought it a suitable place to set up a church. Rumors that a church was being built reached a female troll up the Skåla mountain, about a mile away. She strongly disapproved of this churchbuilding, and decided to put an end to it. When the church was almost finished, she shot an arrow at it. The arrow did not reach its target, but remained planted in the ground some distance from the cemetery. The troll’s arrow (‘trollpila’) remains where it landed to this day.
Romsdalseggen is reminiscent of a huge cock’s comb, with its spikes rising high into the sky. The mountain ridge consists of several peaks and is 10 km long. Vengedalen is the starting point for the trip over Romsdalseggen. There is a daily bus from Åndalsnes to Vengedalen, there and back, between July 1 and September 30, or you can go with your own car. The trip over Romsdalseggen is not too tasking, but one should be in good physical shape and have the right equipment. It rises 970 metres and is graded ‘red’. If the weather is bad, the trip is not recommended. It takes about 8 hours to walk across Romsdalseggen, which is a marked trail with steel steps at some of the more difficult stages. It can be difficult to ascend, but once you get up to Romsdalseggen you are rewarded with an impressive view of the mountains in Romsdal. From here you can see the Troll Wall (Trollveggen), Romsdalshorn, the King (Kongen), the Queen (Dronningen), the Great Trolltind and the Great Venjestind. From the peak you can also see out to sea, and to the town of Molde. Below, in Romsdalen, you can see the river Rauma. The highest point of the tour reaches 1216 metres above sea level. In 2011, Lonely Planet called Romsdalseggen one of the most beautiful mountain hikes in the world.
On beautiful Bolsøya there are many cultural monuments. It is likely that a powerful chief lived here, and there is a meeting place, or ‘tingsted’ that can be traced back to the Viking age. Viking graves, of two women and one man, were discovered at Tingneset in 1922, and there are burial mounds from the same period in several places on the island. In addition, a treasure trove from the Viking Age was found buried here on the island in 1847. It was probably buried around the year 1000. The treasure consists of three large silver rings. It was common for Vikings to melt down foreign silver coins in order to make jewellery. These three silver rings are made in Scandinavia. There was a medieval church a little further inland on the island. The church was rebuilt several times, but in 1906 it was demolished and removed. Remains of the church are still visible, and its cemeteries remain upkept. It is said that the church was built on the orders of Saint Olav (Olav Haraldsson) after he supposedly visited Bolsøya. Traces of the boathouse which housed the chieftain’s large ship, and/or a leidang ship, can be seen a few metres north of the road as it nears the Bolsøy bridge. The latter type of ship was used for defensive purposes in the period from about 800 AD to the 15th century. The ship in this case was probably about 14 metres long and 4 metres wide. Such vessels commonly had at least 20 rowers, and twice as many fighters, on board. The sail of the leidang ship was stored in the nearest church; in this case, the church here on the island. The Hansa burned down the boathouse in the 1300s or 1400s.
(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.
At the end of the 19th century, horse-drawn carriages carrying English tourists were a common sight in Romsdal. A 19th-century tourist reportedly said of Romsdalen that it was ‘an Eldorado that beats both Switzerland and California!’ The first tourist boats were English, and both sail and steam powered. Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany visited Romsdalen frequently in the period from 1889 to 1914. The emperor expressed his enthusiasm for these magnificent landscapes. His ship, SMS Hohenzollern, visited Romsdal each year until 1914. Wilhelm II was known as a ‘friend of Norway’, and in 1905 he played an important role in persuading the Swedish king, Oscar II, not to attack Norway. There was a danger that Sweden would attack in reaction to Norway's declaration of independence from Sweden in 1905. The mountains of Romsdal have attracted mountaineers for more than a hundred years. Many considered it impossible to climb Trollveggen, which with its 1000 metres is Europe's tallest vertical mountain wall. But in 1965, climbers managed to scale it. It took 14 days for them to complete the climb. From 1980, base jumping became popular here. Several parachutists died and many were injured in these jumps, and in 1986 the activity was prohibited.
(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.
(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.
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.
(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.
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.
The Grytten Church was consecrated in 1732, the third church in Inner Romsdal parish. The first churches were erected about four kilometres further up towards Isterdalen. This area was given the name "Grytina". The parsonage and the nearby marketplace Devold are located here as well. The first church was a simple stave church, without any windows or tower. Some two hundred years later a new stave church was erected which also suffered environmental damage. n the Middle Ages Norway was a poor country under foreign rulers and had to endure consecutive years of poor yields, the plague and a harsh climate on top of that. When the third church was consecrated in 1732, it was built in a more updated form, as a so-called cross-church. However, due to excessive clearing of the woodlands nearby, the Rauma River began to erode the vegetation along its banks and carried a lot of sand downriver. The church was in danger of being buried completely. Eventually it was decided to move Grytten church to Veblungsnes, the new center in inner Romsdal. The originally small cross-church was turned into an octagonal church. The timber from the old church was used in the construction, along with new wood. This church was consecrated in 1829. Since then there have been a lot of improvements and additions.
Rauma Ullvarefabrikk AS is located at the mouth of Rauma river at Veblungsnes. This very popular factory supplies yarns to enthusiastic knitters across the country. At the start, in 1927, there were only a few simple textile machines placed in a small seaside cottage with three employees. During World War II the factory was destroyed but soon re-erected. At the end of the 1970s a factory building was constructed. It provided space for an up-to-date production facility.
The village Innfjorden in Rauma municipality is undergoing development. It is located in a south facing bay only a few minutes drive from Åndalsnes town center. You will find both a kindergarten and a school here, serving between 4 and 500 inhabitants, as well as several companies. Organizations are thriving. Innfjorden Sports Team is one of these. The sports team offers adults and children various activities; athletics, football, skiing, a ballpark and plenty of space for everyone to engage in all kinds of exercise. A floodlit cross-country ski trail was constructed in the heart of Innfjorden. It is about 3.5 kilometres long and the light is on every night. Innfjorden offers one of Rauma's best beaches. It is centrally located next to the public assembly house at the bottom of the bay, with a park, benches, volleyball court and a long sandy beach. Next to the school you will find Innfjorden Bedehuskapell (Chapel). It is used for worship, christenings, funeral services, various meetings and organisational activities.
Måndalen, with its village center at Voll, lies at the southern end of the Romsdalsfjord and has about 900 inhabitants. In addition to traditional farming, the village has long-standing textile and wood industries. Most famous are Wenaas and Måndalen trevare. Several construction and transport companies are in operation here as well. The investment company Wenaasgruppen has its headquarters at Voll. It is one of Norway's largest hotel property investment groups. The village has a kindergarten and school, an old people`s home, a bakery and hairdressing salon. There is all the infrastructure you need for a longer stay: a grocery store with integrated post office, a marina, a quay tower, a cafe, a camping area, a beach and a gas station.
Voll Church is located here in Månalen. It was erected in 1896 and restored in 1964. The largest church in Grytten parish looks from the outside like a long church. It was built in the notched timber tradition by the architect G. Smith. In earlier times there was a church dating from 1674 on the same plot. As to objects of interest in the church, we can mention a Bible from 1732, an altar from 1648, and the organ of 1840, probably the oldest organ still in use in the country. Previously, the organ was in Mandal church but was moved to Måndalen in 1926. It was made by the organ builder Albrechtsen from Trondheim and shared a similar fate with many other instruments; it was in a very bad state. Fortunately, it was restored in connection with the church's 100th anniversary.
The Måndal Tunnel passes between Måndalen and Sauset. It is a bit over 2 kilometres long and was opened in May 1993. The Innfjord tunnel opened in November 1991 and together these two tunnels cost 225 million kroner. Måndalstunnelen replaced a section of the road previously endangered by landslides. The old road with its more basic safety precautions may still be used for travel. The new tunnel's aspect and construction differs a great deal from the older one. Before, there were rough-hewn mountain walls lining a dark, cavernous throughway. Now you will find a range of modern installations like frost protection, video surveillance, emergency telephones, fire extinguishers and more. In Måndalstunnelen there is also full coverage for DAB radio and emergency networks throughout the passage.
Danger from frequent landslides caused the previous road on E 136 between Rauma and Vestnes to be replaced by the new, almost 4 km long Vågstrand tunnel. When it was opened, a number of school buses had the honor of driving through first in order to emphasize the improvement to safety for commuting schoolchildren. This section is also part of the main route between South-East Norway and Sunnmøre - the so-called Eksportvegen (Export Road) – another good reason for keeping the road open and safe. The project's cost of NOK 500 million kroner is divided between the Norwegian state and motorists who contribute significantly with tolls. The old road was built during the Second World War and was in places so narrow that it was not wide enough for a median strip. Motorists experienced the road as unsafe and sometimes fatal when colliding with oncoming traffic at high speed. Now the modern road makes the journey a lot safer. Emergency spaces every 500 meters allow for even larger vehicles to turn around in the middle of the tunnel if necessary. Large fans ensure good air quality. In case of an accident blocking the tunnel temporarily, a continuous band of light on the concrete rails is triggered automatically.
Vågstranda Church is located on Vågstranda in Rauma municipality. The church was built in 1870 as a so-called hall church or long church. It is built in traditional notched timber style, which was carved in Trondheim. The church was initially constructed in Trondheim, then the logs were marked and the building dismantled. The building materials were transported to Vågstranda and then properly set up in its permanent location by the architect and builder G. Olsen from Trondheim. The church was restored on its one hundredth anniversary 1970. The church bell was molded on Bolsøya by the local bell molder Christensen. The altarpiece, which dates back to 1870, was painted by Balle Lund from Trondheim. It was by Royal Decree of October 31, 1868 that permission was given to build Vågstranda church on Straume. The building was to be a church in the new Vågstranda parish. Prior to 1870, the people from Vågstranda belonged to the Veøy Old Church, on Veøya, in the Romsdalsfjord.
The agricultural museum at Gjermundnes is located on the premises of the old agricultural school from 1898. The museum is situated on what can be a natural stop halfway between Ålesund and Åndalsnes. From Gjermundnes you have a great panoramic view over to Molde town located on the other side of Romsdalsfjorden. The museum is set in a charming landscape with plenty of sunshine on clear days. You will also find a beautiful park here with a fine oak alley from 1758. The place has a long history and has been an important place for people throughout the ages. Among other things, a field of graves lies here dating from the Iron Age. Records show that even a king - Neskongen Gjermund - lived on the Gjermundnes farm in the Viking age. The agricultural school or Gjermundnes High School, as it is now called, is located here. It specializes in the study of traditional and modern agricultural practices. At Gjermundnes, pupils can acquire knowledge on aspects of planting and mechanical processes of farming. The school also offers comprehensive courses in equine science.
Close to 700 people call the village of Vikebukt their home. Vikebukt borders on the villages of Gjermundnes and Daugstad with a bridge linking it to the municipal center at Helland. The nearest town is Molde which is located on the other side of the fjord. Ålesund and Åndalsnes are reached within an hour's drive in either direction. A ferry used to run here connecting Vestnes, Molde and Vikebukt. It has been replaced with the Tresfjord bridge between Vikebukt and Helland. You still have to take a ferry from Vestnes to get to Molde. The road through Vikebukt is referred to as Eksportvegen and links the Ålesund region with traffic in and out of the county. People have lived here since the Viking Age. Vestiges (or remnants) from a number of caims exist which you can visit in the area. Archaeologists estimate the graves to originate from the Iron Age or the Viking Age. In 2004, a Viking woman's grave was discovered near Vike church. The grave contained pearls and gemstones of amber, weaving equipment and other accessories. The woman who was buried here was named "Husfrua på Vike" (The Housewife of Vike) by the archaeologists. It is believed that this must have been a woman of higher standing who was given a grave memorial here.
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.