Travel
and the trailhead to Norway’s
highest mountain, Galdhøpiggen,
is nearby. Lom is home to one of
Norway’s largest wooden stave
churches, built around 1160.
Representative of Norway’s Viking
history, the Lom stave church is
still in use and open for tours.
Konigs Winger
RIGHT
Losby Gods
Hotel Union Oye
Hotel Brosundet is on the main canal
in Ålesund, the Art Nouveau town
which was rebuilt in characteristic
architectural style following a
catastrophic town fire in 1904.
Originally a codfish-drying
warehouse, Brosundet features
gigantic wood beams and exposed
brick walls, reflecting its history
while highlighting contemporary
style. Brosundet ceased operation
as a fish warehouse in the 1980s
and became a guest hotel in 2006,
and today the design hotel is well
known for serving some of Norway’s
best seafood at its Restaurant
MAKI. Oddly, the hotel has a
refreshing aroma that permeates
the building – not fishy, but a
wonderful wood scent.
Dubbed “adventure capital of the
fjords,” Ålesund makes a good base
for excursions by bus, ferry or small
cruise boat. Just across the canal
from Hotel Brosundet, the adventure
outfitter 62° Nord offers a variety
of outings, including a wildlife sea
safari by high-speed inflatable
boat and small craft cruises through
the magnificent Hjorundfjord, along
with fishing, kayaking and bicycles
for hire.
From Ålesund, I traveled by
cruise boat to two of my favorite
hotels that feature exquisite fjord
views. Hotel Union Øye, tucked in
a storybook setting near
NorangsFjord, has welcomed guests
since 1891, including notables King
Wilhelm II, playwright Henrik Ibsen
and author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Each individually appointed room,
beautifully restored in period décor,
is named for a famous guest. The
petite hamlet of Øye invites a stroll,
and marked hiking trails lead from
the valley into the highlands. For
a daylong endeavor, the towering
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