|
| |
1502
|
| |
Møre Og Romsdal
|
| |
Molde
|
| |
Romsdal
|
| |
Jan Petter Hammerø ( H )
|
| |
2005
|
| |
254
|
| |
363
|
| |
355
|
| |
011
|
| |
2004
|
| |
35
|
| |
24,421
|
| |
053
|
| |
68
|
| |
60
|
| |
Neutral
|
| |
62 lat_min=45 lat_sec=23 lon_deg=7 lon_min=14 lon_sec=19
|
| |
32V utm_northing=6959692 utm_easting=0410053 geo_cat=adm2nd
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
wwwmoldekommuneno
|
is a city and
Municipality , and the administrative center in the
County of
Møre Og Romsdal ,
Norway . Neighboring municipalities are
Aukra ,
Fræna ,
Gjemnes ,
Nesset ,
Rauma ,
Vestnes , and
Midsund .
Located on the northern shore of the
Romsdalsfjord , Molde, also known as the ''Town of Roses'', is famous for its spectacular panoramic view to the snow-clad peaks on the southern side of the fjord. It is regional capital of
Møre Og Romsdal and hosts the bishop of
Møre . The name is probably derived from Old Norse ''moldar'', plural form of ''mold'' meaning rich or fertile soil.
The city is easily accessible by car and major roads from
Oslo , 7 hrs via
Åndalsnes and the magnificent
Trollveggen ; and 4 hrs hrs from
Trondheim , via
Oppdal and
Sunndalsøra , or 3.5 hrs
Krifast .
Hurtigruta , the fabled coastal route, visits Molde every day, on its journey between
Bergen and
Kirkenes . The closest railway station is
Åndalsnes , the terminus for
Raumabanen .
The city has an airport at
Årø , with several daily flights to
Oslo ,
Bergen , and
Trondheim .
Molde University College
{Link without Title} , offers a wide range of academical opportunities, from Nursing and Health related studies, to Economics and administrative courses, specializing in information technology, transport economics and logistics, with degrees up to and including PhD.
The city's
Coat-of-arms shows a
Whale chasing
Herring into a barrel, symbolizing the founding industries of the city - the export of fish and timber. Molde was never a whaling port; the whale is merely an echo of the ancient belief that whales were a good omen, chasing (and not following) the schools of fish into the fjords at certain times of the year.
The local newspaper is ''
Romsdals Budstikke {Link without Title} ''.
The
Consulate General for the
Republic Of Macedonia in Norway is situated in Molde.
Two current notabilities from Molde are politician and former prime minister
Kjell Magne Bondevik and businessman
Kjell Inge Røkke .
Molde proper consists of a 10 km long and 1-2 km wide strip of urban land running east-west along the north shore of
Moldefjorden , the arm of
Romsdalsfjorden between the city and the parallel running chain of low-laying islands and islets screening the city from the south, and the woodclad hills to the north.
The city center is located just west of the river
Moldeelva , which runs into the city from the north, from Moldevatnet (lake), through Moldedalen (valley), and finally pours into Moldefjorden (fjord).
Although the river is minor and seasonal, there were several sawmills along it in the 16 and 1700s. This gave rise to the city itself through a combination of a good harbour, proximity to the sea routes, vast timber resources, and a river capable of supporting mills.
In 1909 the river also housed the first
Hydro Electric Power Plant capable of providing sufficient electricity to the city.
Molde has a
Maritime ,
Temperate Climate , with cool-to-warm summers, and relatively mild winters. The annual persipitation is moderate/high, with an average of 1640 mm per year. The warmest and driest season is late summer/fall, where Molde also holds the national high for the month of October, with 25.6 °C (on October 11, 2005).
A
Natural Phenomenon occurring in Molde, and the adjacent district, are frequent winter days with temperatures above 15 °C. This is due to
Föhn Wind from south and south-east. Combined with a steady influx of warm, moist south-westerly winds from the
Atlantic Ocean through the
Gulf Stream , it gives Molde a climate much warmer than average for its
Latitude .
The sheltered location of the city, facing south with hills to the north, mountains to the east and mountainous islands to the west, also contributes to Molde's climate and unusually rich plantlife, especially among species naturally growing on far lower latitudes, like
Maple ,
Chestnut ,
Oak ,
Lime /
Linden ,
Beech ,
Yew , and others.
Molde was a popular tourist destination of international fame already in the late
19th Century with
Kaiser Wilhelm of
Germany as a regular summer visitor. The Kaiser referred to the city as "The
Nice of the North", which naturally gave a tremendous boost to the city's desirability as a tourist destination. Drawn by its unique setting where visitors can enjoy a magnificent view of more than 222 rugged and partly snow-clad mountain peaks from all over the city, but preferably from the viewpoint Varden, it became a desired port of call for the yachts and cruise ships of the European gentry up until
World War I . At the time, Molde consisted of luxurious hotels surrounding an idyllic township with quaint, wooden houses, lush gardens and parks, esplanades and pavillions, earning it the nickname "the Town of Roses", and was unrivalled as the most prominent fjord town on Norway’s west coast.
This golden era came to a sudden end with the outbreak of
World War I , and the devestating fire of
1916 .
Although tourism has never reached the magnitude and economical importance it once had, Molde is still a major cruise ship and tourist destination.
Another famous attraction is the ''Royal Birch'' at Glomstua, which is where King
Haakon VII and Crown Prince
Olav sought to hide during the German
World War II bombing of the city in April 1940. A famous photograph taken during this event was widely reprinted, and became a symbol of Norwegian
Patriotism and
Resistance againt
Nazi-Germany . Close to the Royal Birch is the international Grove of Peace (see
Bjørnson Festival ).
The district surrounding Molde is arguably one of the most dramatic and beautiful areas in Norway. Here you can visit some of country's best-known tourist attractions (for more information see ''Destination Molde''
or VisitMolde [http://www.visitmolde.com/
Varden (407 metres above sea level) is a viewpoint directly above Molde, with a good view of the city, the fjord and islands and the famous Molde panorama with its 222 partially snow-clad peaks. On clear days you can see as far as the fishing village of Ona and the dreaded waters of Hustadvika. Varden is only ten minutes by car or an hour's walk along the nature trail from the centre of Molde. The "Vardestua" restaurant is at the top and marked trails take you into the Moldemarka countryside.
In Molde you can also visit the Romsdal Museum, one of Norway's largest and most comprehensive folk
Museum s, established in 1912. Old buildings originating from all over the region have been moved here to form a typical cluster of farm buildings including "open
Hearth " houses, sheds, outhouses,
Smokehouse s and a small chapel. The "town street" with Mali's Café shows typical Molde town houses from the pre-war period.
The breath-taking
Atlantic Road , voted the Norwegian Construction of the Century in 2005, is built on bridges and landfills across small islands and skerries, literally into the mighty
North Atlantic Ocean . It takes you from the small picturesque communities of Vikan and Vevang, to the historical island of
Averøy .
You can venture up
Fjord arms to visit the dramatic scenery of the
Eikesdal valley and
Mardalsfossen , the highest
Waterfall in Northern
Europe cascading 297 metres down into the valley and is the fourth highest waterfall in the world (the total hight of the waterfall is 655 m).
Trollveggen , near Åndalsnes, is Europe’s tallest vertical, overhanging mountain face, with some of the world's most difficult climbing routes. There you can also you can experience
Trollstigen , the most visited tourist road in Norway. It is a master feat of engineering, twisting and turning its way up an almost vertical mountainside through 11 hairpin bends to an altitude of 858 m.
On remote islands off coast are the idyllic fishing communities of Ona, Bjørnsund, and Håholmen, accessible by boat or ferry.
30 minutes outside Molde, followed by a 1 hour hike up a partly steep, but good trail, you will find Trollkirka (lit. "Troll's Church") - a remarkable marble grotto leading up to a spectacular underground waterfall. There are also other, perhap less accessible, caves and grottos in the area.
Bud is a picturesque fishing village on the very tip of the Romsdal
Peninsula . It gained importance during the
Middle Ages as a trading post, and hosted the last free
State Council of Norway in
1533 , a desperate attempt to save the country's independence and stave off the
Protestant Reformation , led by
Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson of
Nidaros (Trondheim). In Bud you can also visit the massive Ergan coastal defences, a restored German coastal fort from
World War II , and a part of the
Atlantic Wall .
The contrasts in scenery and landscape make the Molde region perfect for outdoor pursuits. In the numerous hills and mountains within minutes from the city, you can ramble as you wish along marked paths or simply off-track, you can go
Skiing in tracks, resorts, or on your own in the deep woods; or go hunting for game animals and
Grouse . Also, with Molde as your base you will find great opportunities for
Rock Climbing ,
Ice Climbing ,
Bouldering , and
Glacier hiking. Also, if you are a skilled
Mountaineer , then near-by
Romsdal is perfect for you. In the area, you will also find some of the finest locations for
Basejumping in the world.
The rivers of the area, the
Rauma ,
Driva , and
Eira , legendary among the British
Gentry already in the mid-1800s, abound in
Salmon ,
Sea Trout and
Sea Char .
Trout is abundant in every lake, and with free public access to the shoreline, you can catch
Cod ,
Pollock ,
Saithe ,
Mackerel and other species of
Saltwater Fish from the shore or from boat. For a thrill seeker,
Hustadvika is one of Norway's best locations for scuba diving and wind-surfing.
In Molde you can parttake in popular activities such as horseback riding, go-karting, parachuting, golf, tennis, squash and bowling, or use indoor gyms and pools.
Three of "the Great Four" Norwegian authors spent time, stayed or lived in Molde.
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson spent his childhood at
Nesset outside Molde and attended school in the city.
Henrik Ibsen frequently spent his vacations at the mansion ''Moldegård,'', and
Alexander Kielland resided in the city as the governor of Romsdals amt (name of Møre og Romsdal up until
1920 ). Ibsen's play ''
Rosmersholm '' is inspired by the life at Moldegård, and ''
The Lady From The Sea '' is also set in the city of Molde (although there are no direct references in the play, the geographical descriptions matches perfectly). Other authors from, or with strong bonds to Molde, include
Edvard Hoem ,
Jo Nesbø ,
Knut Ødegård , and
Nini Roll Anker , a dear friend of
Sigrid Undset . The city of Molde has also been the home of several internationally known rock groups such as
Lash Out (1992–98) and
Bannlyst (1985–87), and also to singer/songwriter
Ane Brun .
Every mid-July, Molde is host to an international key event - the biggest, most important, and oldest
Jazz festival in
Europe ,
Moldejazz . Artists such as
Miles Davis ,
Lester Bowie ,
Sonny Stitt ,
Dexter Gordon ,
Karin Krog ,
Keith Jarrett ,
Joseph Jarman ,
John Scofield ,
Phil Woods ,
BB King ,
Ray Charles ,
Eric Clapton ,
Van Morrison ,
James Brown ,
Bob Dylan ,
Santana ,
Paul Simon ,
Joe Cocker , and
Lauryn Hill have performed at the Molde Jazz Festival.
An estimated 40,000 tickets are sold for the 100+ events during the festival. Between 80,000 and 100,000 visitors visit the city during the one-week long musical adventure
Every August, Molde and
Nesset host an international literature festival, known as the
Bjørnson Festival . Established by poet Knut Ødegård in connection with Molde's 250-year anniversary The Bjørnson Festival is the oldest, and the more internationally acclaimed, festival of literature in Norway.
The festival is named in honour of the
Nobel Prize In Literature Laureate Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (1832-1910), who grew up and attended school in and around Molde. Bjørnson created the modern, Nordic
Historical Drama and also wrote the lyrics for the
Norwegian National Anthem .
Visiting authors (and tree-planters at The Peace Grove) include
Wole Soyinka ,
Yasar Kemal ,
Vigdís Finnbogadóttir ,
Seamus Heaney ,
Amos Oz ,
Izzat Al-Ghazzawi ,
Bei Dao ,
Hans Blix and
Thor Heyerdahl .
Additionally a number of smaller and shorter festivals are held annually, such as blues and roots festivals, and a watersports festival.
The
Medieval township on the island of
Veøy – the holy island – situated at the nearby junction where three smaller fjords meet the main
Fjord leading westwards out to the
Romsdal coast and the shipping routes, had lost its importance at the eve of the 15th Century. However, commercial life in the region was not dead, and originating from the two settlements at Reknes and Molde (later Moldegård), a minor port called ''Molde Fjære'' (''Molde Landing'') emerged, based on trade with timber and herring to mainly Dutch, but also English, Scottish and Portuguese merchants. In
1614 the town gained formal trading rights, and in
1742 it was finally incorporated through a
Royal Charter . However, settlement in the area can be traced much further back in time - evidence given by two rock slabs carved with
Petroglyphs found at
Bjørset west of the city center.
After the decline of the nearby competing townships and tradingposts of
Bud and
Veblungsnes , Molde continued to grow throughout the 18th and 19th Centuries, becoming a center for Norwegian textile and garment industry, as well as an administrative center for the region. At this point, tourism had become the major industry. This rapid development was interrupted when one third of the city, mostly its famous wooden buildings and rose gardens, were destroyed in a fire on
21 and
January 22 ,
1916 .
However, Molde recovered quickly, and continued to grow in the economically difficult interbellum period.
A second fire, or series of fires, struck from the
German air-raids in April
1940 , destroying about two thirds of the city. German vanguards were trying to cut off and capture the king, cabinet,
Parliament and national gold reserves, evacuated from
Oslo following the attack on
Norway on
April 9 1940 . Arriving safely in Molde, the city was de facto capital of Norway from
22 to
April 29 , when the advancing German forces, combined with a failed British counter-attack, forced the Norwegian commander-in-chief, General
Otto Ruge , to abandon Southern Norway and continue the fight from
Tromsø .
Since World War II, Molde has experienced a tremendous growth. As the modernization of the Norwegian society accelerated in the post-reconstruction years, Molde became a center for not only administrative and public services, but also academical resources and industrial output. After the consolidation of the city itself and its adjacent communities in 1964, Molde became a modern city, encompassing most branches of employment, from farming and fisheries, through industrial production, to banking, tourism, commerce, health care and civil administration.
The fjord with its islands and skerries and the mountains encircle the town as beautifully as always, and will continue to be the frame and the arena of the town’s development in the years ahead.
The great national poet
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson , expresses this sentiment in his poem 'Til Romsdalen':
''"Everything I see has an eye, a voice''
''And the people? I know them all''
''Even those I have never met. I say:''
''If you know the fjord, you know the people"''
Molde hosts a variety of sports teams. Most notably the . Home matches are played at
Molde Stadium , an architectural feat inaugurated in 1998, which holds a record attendance of 13,308 The team is holder of two national championships (1994 and 2005), six times runner-up in the League, and has numerous appearances in European tournaments, including the
UEFA Champions League . The club was founded in
1911 , during Molde's period of great British and Continental influx, and was first named "International", since it predominantly played teams made up from crews of foreign vessels visiting the city.
In addition to a number of international players, the city has also produced several skijumpers, cross-country and alpine skiers of international merit.
Other sports include the local
Underwater Rugby team,
Molde S.L.K , one of the best in Europe, as well as
S.K. Træff , with a team in the Norwegian first divisjon of women's
Handball , and
S.K. Rival , the mother club of olympic alpine skier
Andrine Flemmen .
Molde has several
Friendship Town s:
