Alesund is a city and municipality in Norway. It is a sea port, northeast of Bergen. On the night of January 23, 1904, the city was the scene of the Alesund Fire, one of the most extreme of the many infernos to which Norwegian towns, once built mostly of wood, have been subjected to. Virtually the whole town was destroyed, a windstorm helping the flames, and the population had to leave the place in the middle of the night with only a few minutes' notice. Alesund is a port of call for passenger and freight vessels traveling between Bergen, Kingston upon Hull, Newcastle, Hamburg, and Trondheim, including the daily Hurtigruta (Norwegian Coastal Express ships). Alesund is the site of an yearly Norwegian Food Festival.
You can visit one of the most popular museums in Norway. Alesunds Museum is positioned right in the middle of Alesund town center with superb harbor view and museum park. Alesunds Museum presents the town history in an stimulating way through artifacts, photographs and paintings. Alesunds Museum has exhibitions about the Second World War, and an old country store.
Also by the stunning harbor in Alesund you can find the landmark Holmbua. The warehouse from 1861 escaped the great Town Fire of 1904, and today it holds Alesunds Museums´ fisheries exhibitions.
Or go to the Vanylven Municipality. It has received the title "national innovation municipality". Due to this occurrence of the world largest Sunflower statue was raised at the municipality center Fiskabygd. The statue is made of steel, and this Sunflower is a symbol of optimism, riches and harmony.