Molde

Provided by:

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Welcome to this test route designed for Fred Olsen Cruise Lines. We have selected 8 points so that you can get an insight into the service. Click "DOWNLOAD" to download the route, and then click "START" to open the map. The points will play automatically as you approach them. The points can also be played manually by clicking the arrows or by clicking on the images. Enjoy the tour.

Audio guides available in:

English (British)

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Points of interest

#1

Plassen

You are now in front of the building called Plassen, completed in 2012. This is the location for Møre og Romsdal's art centre, the regional theatre in Møre og Romsdal, known by the name Teateret Vårt, Molde Library and Kafe Kurt. Møre og Romsdal art centre was established in 1978 and is owned by the associations Bildende Kunstnere Møre og Romsdal and Norske kunsthåndverkere Midt-Norge. The art centre strives to present art of high quality to a broad audience and aims to fascinate, surprise and engage visitors. This is also where the administrative tasks related to sculpture and craft in the district can be found. Here, you will find a diversified exhibition from Norway and abroad, in addition to a wide collection of graphics, glass and ceramics for sale on the second floor. Teateret Vårt, located in the same building, was established in 1972 and is Norway's oldest regional theatre. It is based in Molde, but performs on tours across the whole county of Møre og Romsdal. The theatre organises between 250 and 300 performances each year. To the left of the entrance there is a nice and modern library. If you wish to eat something, or have a cup of coffee, we recommend Kafe Kurt — they serve cold and warm dishes, and a large selection of beverages. If you walk up the stairs on the southern side of the building, you will reach the roof where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the town, the fjord and the mountains in the background.

Audio guides available in:

Norsk bokmål, English (British), 日本語, Deutsch , Español

#2

The first bomb

Storkaia below Alexandra Park is where the first bomb fell during World War II. With approximately 3500 inhabitants, Molde was a very peaceful little city, but by 15 April 1940, just a few days after the German invasion, the first bomb went off. A bomber tried to hit the motorboat “Trygg” lying moored at the pier. Another bomber destroyed a harbor shed and left a huge hole in Storkaia. The bombing increased and by the end of April the entire city center of Molde was burning. The bombing went on for two weeks: in total around 300 bombs were dropped over the city and its surrounding areas. More than 200 buildings were destroyed. The king and the government escaped together with the Norwegian gold bars and a large amount of gold coins. There were dramatic times in Molde during those April days. Most of the gold reserves were taken on board the British cruise ship HMS “Glasgow” which was located just off Storkaia. The gold reserves were transported there from the other end of the city using the local ferries “Legona” and “Rovdehorn”. Due to the heavy bombing, the cruiser eventually had to escape from Molde with only a part of the valuable freight on board. The rest was secured in other ways. The gold transport had a great symbolic significance for the resistance struggle in Norway.

Audio guides available in:

Norsk bokmål, English (British), Deutsch , Español

#3

Alexandra park

This park is not particularly large, but well known amongst jazz fans worldwide as a music venue for the Molde Jazz Festival. The park is indeed so tiny that the author Arild Stavrum described it as "the world's smallest park, with its three trees". It has been a park area ever since the establishment of Molde`s first tourist hotel in 1883. The park features some of the same diversity as the city’s larger gardens that have inspired Molde’s byname “City of Roses”. It was the garden architect Njål Bele who in 1954 designed the park and it is mostly his design we still see today.

Audio guides available in:

Norsk bokmål, English (British), Deutsch , Español

#4

MOLDE SQUARE - AR

The square in Molde is a meeting place for concerts, markets and activites. The artwork ‘togetherness’ by the Swedish artist Jacob Dahkgren was picked out in an architecture competition. It is installed with a small chute that runs water down into a small pool. The turquoise sculpture inspires us to be together, many children enjoy climbing on the sculpture and playing in the water. In just a short space of time the sculpture has become the signature of Molde, at the same time as challenging us. There will certainly be some people who wonder what an earth it is, in the way that all art that does not flow is able to provoke a reaction. But the reaction from most people is positive, and they think it is exciting. People can see everthing from worms and snakes to signs and writing.

Audio guides available in:

Norsk bokmål, English (British)

#5

The Jazz Boy

The sculptor Nina Due created the bronze figure Jazzgutten (The Jazz Boy). This sculpture was given to Molde on the 250th anniversary of the city in 1992, a work of art supporting the claim that Molde is the Jazz capital of Norway. What was intended to be a universal representation of jazz musicians has caused much controversy among locals. As everywhere, art here too is a matter of subjective opinion. For example, some have opined that this metal saxophonist is too athletic to be a typical jazz musician. Jazz fans will politely indulge all discussion and are of course delighted by this monument to music.

Audio guides available in:

Norsk bokmål, English (British), Deutsch , Español

#6

Sleipner Monument

Sleipner was a destroyer launched from the Navy`s main yard in Horten on 7 May 1936. The destroyer, with Ernst Ullring as captain, was engaged in battle in the Romsdalsfjorden in 1940. It also escorted troops through the fjord during April 1940 and acted in defence of Molde`s air space, fighting daily against the German Luftwaffe. At one point, during an hourlong attack by 12 aircraft, effective maneuvering and accurate shooting saved the ship from major damage. Lack of ammunition and the need for repair after naval battle in the Romsdalsfjord was the reason why Sleipner had to withdraw from Norwegian waters. It crossed the North Sea and came to Lerwick on Shetland 26 April 1940. Sleipner was employed steadily during its lifetime. When it finally broke up, it had been in operation for 1400 days. In 1948, it was rebuilt as a frigate and became known as the KNM Sleipner. In 1959 it was sold and scrapped.

Audio guides available in:

Norsk bokmål, English (British), Deutsch , Español

#7

Fishery Museum 1

The fishery museum is located in Hjertøya, a 10-minute boat ride from the centre of Molde. You can catch the boat in the summer season from the Torget. The museum enjoys a sheltered and scenic location in an east facing bay. Hjertøya is the largest of the Molde islands and is owned by Molde municipality. The island is covered in woodland, with beaches and sheltered coves. There are many opportunities to bathe and enjoy the outdoors on the island. The Molde archipelago was owned by Moldegård up until 1903. Hjertøya (derived from the man’s name Gjert) was home to a croft belonging to the farm, and people lived here right up until the 1950s. The fishery department of the Romsdal museum was established on Hjertøya in 1948. The fishery museum has a unique collection of 15 old buildings from the Romsdal coast. In addition, there is a boat hall with an interesting collection of vessels. The museum has been constructed as a small fishing village with amongst other things a cod liver oil plant, fishermen’s cottages, engineering workshops, and residential dwellings. Demonstrating daily home and work life during the long fishing season is the central theme in the presentation of the museum.

Audio guides available in:

Norsk bokmål, English (British)

#8

Town Reconstruction 1 and 2

Large parts of the old western parts of the centre were burnt down after intensive bombing by the German forces during the April of 1940. The eastern part had already been destroyed during the town fire of January 1916, but for the most part that had already been rebuilt before the war. The charming tourist town, with winding streets, wooden houses and abundant flower gardens behind picket fences was a thing of the past. Even while the bombing was taking place the town engineer Dørum was in contact with the town planner Sverre Pedersen in Trondheim. Dørum had started surveying the burnt areas in the town and had sent a draft of a new town plan to Pedersen, who led the work on ‘Brente Steders Regulering (BSR)’. It was BSR who worked on the planning of the rebuilding of Molde and other Norwegian cities throughout the war. Pedersen had already worked with the Molde town planners before the war, including on the planning of Alexandria Park. The new reconstruction plan consisted of mainly three-story buildings build of brick and concrete in the town centre. During the first years of rebuilding weight was given to traditional building methods with amongst other things gabled rooves inspiring the designs - but in combination with features of functionality. The Royal supply and reconstruction department had a lot to consider. There were towns that needed rebuilding across most of Norway, but the war still cast its shadow in terms of restrictions on building materials. In the initial post war years, cement was freely available on the market, whereas wood, steel and other necessary materials were still in short supply. All of these were important building materials in the rebuilding of Molde.

Audio guides available in:

Norsk bokmål, English (British)

Molde

Points of interest