Molde kommune
—  Municipality  —
Coat of arms Møre og Romsdal within Norway
Molde within Møre og Romsdal
Coordinates: 62°45′23″N 7°14′19″E / 62.75639, 7.23861
Country	Norway
County	Møre og Romsdal
District	Romsdal
Municipality ID	NO-1502
Administrative centre	Molde
Government
- Mayor (2005)	Jan Petter Hammerø (H)
Area (Nr. ||} Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions called counties ( fylker, singular fylke) and 430 municipalities ( kommuner, cf Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional ||-||} Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties ( Norwegian: singular fylke, plural fylker ( Bokmål is a county in the northernmost part of Western Norway. It borders the counties of Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane. Norway is divided into a number of traditional Districts Many districts have deep historical roots and only partially coincide with today's administrative units of counties Romsdal is the name of a Valley and traditional district in the Norwegian county Møre og Romsdal. ISO 3166-2NO is an ISO standard which defines Geocodes it is the subset of ISO 3166-2 which applies to Norway. The Conservative Party ( Høyre, H meaning " right " is a Norwegian Political party. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. 254 in Norway)
- Total	363 km² (140. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 2 sq mi)
- Land	355 km² (137. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 1 sq mi)
Population (2004)
- Total	24,421
- Density	68/km² (176. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 1/sq mi)
- Change (10 years)	6. 0 %
- Rank in Norway	35
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Official language form	Neutral
Data from Statistics Norway
Website: www.molde.kommune.no

Molde is a city and municipality in the county of Møre og Romsdal, Norway. Central European Time ( CET) is one of the names of the Time zone that is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. UTC+1 is used in the following locations Central European Time West Africa Time Western European Summer Time Daylight saving time ( DST Central European Summer Time ( CEST) is one of the names of UTC+2 Time zone, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. UTC+2 corresponds to the following Time zones Eastern European Time Egypt Standard Time Central Africa Time Norwegian ( norsk) is a North Germanic Language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is an official language Norwegian ( norsk) is a North Germanic Language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is an official language ||} Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions called counties ( fylker, singular fylke) and 430 municipalities ( kommuner, cf is a county in the northernmost part of Western Norway. It borders the counties of Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional

Eastward view on Molde. Molde Cathedral is seen left of center.

An old settlement emerging as a trading post in the late Middle Ages. Formal trading rights were introduced in 1614, and the city was incorporated through a royal charter in 1742. A Royal Charter is a Charter granted by the Sovereign on the advice of the Privy council to legitimize an incorporated body such as a city company Molde was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see here), and Bolsøy and parts of Veøy were merged with Molde on January 1, 1964. Formannskaps-distrikt was the name for a Norwegian local self-government districts put into force in 1838. Bolsøy is a former municipality in Møre og Romsdal county Norway Veøya (or Veøy) is a island outside Molde, Norway, located at junction of the three main branches of Romsdalsfjord between Sekken and the mainland New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar.

The city is the administrative center of Møre og Romsdal, the commercial hub of Romsdal, and the host of the bishop of Møre. is a county in the northernmost part of Western Norway. It borders the counties of Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane. Romsdal is the name of a Valley and traditional district in the Norwegian county Møre og Romsdal. Møre is a Diocese in the Church of Norway which geographically consists of Møre og Romsdal county Norway, and has its Bishop residing Molde continued to grow throughout the 18th and 19th Centuries, becoming a center for Norwegian textile and garment industry, as well as the administrative center for the region, and a major tourist destination. A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn. Clothing (also called clothes, accoutrements, accouterments, or habiliments) protects the Human body from extreme Weather

After World War II, Molde has experienced much growth, becoming a center for not only administrative and public services, but also academic resources and industrial output. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including

The city is located on the northern shore of the Romsdalsfjord on the Romsdal Peninsula. Romsdalsfjord is the ninth longest Fjord in Norway. It is 88 km long and located in Romsdal in Møre og Romsdal. Romsdal Peninsula ( Norwegian Romsdalshalvøya) is a 1560 km² peninsula located in the landscape Romsdal in Møre og Romsdal county Molde has a maritime, temperate climate, with cool-to-warm summers, and relatively mild winters. An oceanic climate (also called marine west coast climate and maritime climate) is the Climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes

History

Main article: History of Molde

Illustration of Molde, 1904

The medieval township on Veøya, an island outside present day Molde, was first mentioned by the historian Snorri Sturluson as the location of the Battle of Sekken in 1162, where king Håkon the Broad-shouldered was killed fighting the aristocrat Erling Skakke, during the Norwegian civil wars. The History of Molde, Norway, can be traced back to the middle ages Snorri Sturluson (1178 – September 23, 1241) was an Icelandic historian poet and politician Haakon II Sigurdsson (Herdebrei - Eng "broad-shouldered" king of Norway from 1157 until 1162 Erling Skakke (1115 &ndash 18 June 1179) the son of Kyrpinga-Orm, was a Norwegian strongman and Earl during the 12th century The Civil war era of Norwegian history ( Norwegian borgerkrigstida) is a term used for the period between 1130 and 1240 in the

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 centre. Petroglyphs are Images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising pecking carving and abrading

At the eve of the 15th century, Veøy had lost most of its influence, and the island was eventually deserted. 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 foreign merchants.

Molde's main street and commercial center. Molde Cathedral (orange roof on far right) with its freestanding bell tower replaces the church that was destroyed during World War II

The town gained formal trading rights in 1614. During the Swedish occupation of Middle Norway, 1658-1660, after Denmark-Norway's devastating defeat in the Northern Wars, the town became a hub of resistance to the Swedes. "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. Denmark–Norway ( Danish: Danmark-Norge Norwegian: Danmark-Norge or Danmark-Noreg is the historiographical name for a former political entity union The Treaty of Roskilde was signed on February 26, 1658 in the Danish city of Roskilde. This article is about the 17th century war For 16th century war see Northern Seven Years' War ( 1563 – 1570) After the rebellion and liberation in 1660, Molde became the administrative headquarter of Romsdalen Amt and was incorporated through a royal charter in 1742. The Treaty of Copenhagen was signed on May 27, 1660, and marked the conclusion of the Thirty Years War or the Second Northern War between Sweden A Royal Charter is a Charter granted by the Sovereign on the advice of the Privy council to legitimize an incorporated body such as a city company Molde continued to grow throughout the 18th and 19th Centuries, becoming a center for Norwegian textile and garment industry. Tourism became a major industry: Molde saw notabilities such as the German emperor Wilhelm II of Germany and the Prince of Wales as regular summer visitors. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Prince of Wales (Tywysog Cymru is a title traditionally granted to the Heir Apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom (and formerly the Kingdom Molde consisted of luxurious hotels surrounding an idyllic township with quaint, wooden houses, lush gardens and parks, esplanades and pavilions, earning it the nickname the Town of Roses. This was interrupted when one third of the city was destroyed in a fire on January 21, 1916. Events 1189 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade. Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year However, Molde recovered 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 and May of 1940, and destroyed about two thirds of the town. Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers The king, cabinet, parliament and national gold reserves evacuated from Oslo following the attack on Norway on April 9, 1940, arriving in Molde en-route to the United Kingdom. A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of Government, typically representing the executive branch. TalkParliament#Screen-size. -->A  parliament is a Legislature, especially in those (called Christiania from 1624 to 1878 and Kristiania from 1878 to 1924 is the Capital and largest city of Norway. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional Events 193 - Septimius Severus is proclaimed Roman Emperor by the army in Illyricum (in the Balkans) Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The King, Crown Prince and government was evacuated on the British cruiser HMS Glasgow, and brought to safety. A cruiser is a large type of Warship, which had its prime period from the late 19th century to the end of the Cold War. Norwegian Campaign Captain F H Pegram was commanding officer of Glasgow from July 1939 to April 1940

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 academic resources and industrial output. After the consolidation of the town itself and its adjacent communities in 1964, Molde became a modern town, encompassing most branches of employment, from farming and fisheries, through industrial production, to banking, tourism, commerce, health care and civil administration.

Name

The town is named after the original settlement on the farmstead of Molde (Old Norse Moldar). Old Norse is the North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age The name is either the plural form of mold f 'fertile soil', or *moldr m 'skull, mould' (thus in reference to the rounded peaks in Moldemarka). Moldemarka is the general term used to describe the 30km² hilly and mostly wood-clad recreational area north of the city of Molde in the county of Møre

Pronunciation varies between the standard Molde, and the rural Molle. A person from Molde will refer to him/herself as a Moldenser.

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from 1742. It shows a whale chasing herring into a barrel, symbolizing the founding industries of the city - the export of fish and timber. Whales are marine mammals which are neither Dolphins (ie members of the families Delphinidae or Platanistoidae) nor Porpoises Orcas Herring are small Oily fish of the genus Clupea found in the shallow temperate waters of the North Atlantic, the Baltic Sea, the North 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.

Geography

Molde consists of a 10 km long and 1-2 km wide strip of urban land running east-west along the north shore of the Moldefjord, an arm of the Romsdalsfjord, on the Romsdal peninsula. Moldefjord is the 60 km long northern branch of Romsdalsfjord, running past the city of Molde, Norway, in and east-west bound direction from Julsund Romsdalsfjord is the ninth longest Fjord in Norway. It is 88 km long and located in Romsdal in Møre og Romsdal. Romsdal Peninsula ( Norwegian Romsdalshalvøya) is a 1560 km² peninsula located in the landscape Romsdal in Møre og Romsdal county The town is sheltered by the Molde archipelago, a chain of low-lying islands and islets, and the wood-clad hills to the north. The Molde Archipelago is a chain of about 50 wood-clad islands and islets 2 km south the city of Molde, Norway. The town center is located just west of the river Moldeelva, which runs into the town from the north, originating in the Moldevatnet lake, through the valley Moldedalen. Moldeelva (Molde River runs through the city of Molde, Norway, from Moldevatnet (Lake Molde through Moldedalen (Molde Valley and flows into Moldefjord Moldevatnet ( Lake Molde) is the main Reservoir and Water supply for the city of Molde, Norway. Despite the river being minor and seasonal, it supported several sawmills in the 16th and 17th centuries. This gave rise to the town itself through a combination of a good harbor, proximity to the sea routes, vast timber resources, and a river capable of supporting mills. In 1909, the river housed the first hydro electric power plant capable of providing sufficient electricity for the town. Hydropower, hydraulic power or water power is power that is derived from the Force or Energy of moving water which may A power station (also referred to as generating station, power plant or powerhouse) is an industrial facility for the generation of The upper reaches of the river still provides drinking water for most of the town.

The panoramic view of some 220 partly snow-clad peaks, often called the Molde panorama, is famous, having been one of the attractions drawing tourists to the town in the 19th century. The Molde Panorama is a general term used to describe the famous panoramic view of some 220 partly snow-clad peaks seen from the city of Molde, Norway In addition to being regional capital of Møre og Romsdal, and the commercial hub of Romsdal, the town hosts the bishop of Møre. is a county in the northernmost part of Western Norway. It borders the counties of Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane. Romsdal is the name of a Valley and traditional district in the Norwegian county Møre og Romsdal. is a county in the northernmost part of Western Norway. It borders the counties of Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane. Molde is nicknamed the Town of Roses, a name which originated during the time Molde was a tourist destination of international fame in the late 19th century.

Neighboring municipalities are Aukra, Gjemnes, Nesset, Eide, Averøy and Midsund, and neighboring towns and townships are Åndalsnes in Rauma, Elnesvågen in Fræna, and Vestnes. Aukra is a municipality in the county of Møre og Romsdal, Norway. Gjemnes is a municipality in the county of Møre og Romsdal, Norway on the Romsdal peninsula. Nesset is a municipality in the county of Møre og Romsdal, Norway on the Romsdal Peninsula. EIDE ( Enhanced IDE) is an interface between a computer's hard disk and motherboard Eide is a municipality in the county Averøy is a municipality in the county of Møre og Romsdal, Norway. Midsund is a municipality in the county of Møre og Romsdal, Norway. is a Norwegian town in the municipality of Rauma, of which it is also the administrative center Rauma is a municipality in the county of Møre og Romsdal, Norway. Elnesvågen is a village in Fræna municipality in Norway, 15 minutes north of Molde. Fræna is a municipality in the county of Møre og Romsdal, Norway. Vestnes is a village and municipality in the county of Møre og Romsdal, Norway, a 35 minute Ferry ride from the town of Molde

Climate

Molde has a maritime, temperate climate, with cool-to-warm summers, and relatively mild winters. An oceanic climate (also called marine west coast climate and maritime climate) is the Climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes The annual precipitation is relatively high, with an average of 1640 mm per year. The warmest season is late summer. Molde holds the national high for the month of October, with 25. 6 °C (on October 11, 2005). The driest season is May-June. ^[1] Due to its geographic location, Molde experiences frequent snowfalls in winter, but this snow is usually wet as the winters are usually mild. "Snowfall" redirects here For other uses see Snow (disambiguation or Snowfall (disambiguation.

A natural phenomenon occurring in Molde and the adjacent district, are frequent winter days with temperatures above 10 °C, sometimes even above 15 °C. A natural phenomenon is a non-artificial event in the physical sense and therefore not produced by Humans although it may affect humans (e This is due to foehn wind from south and south-east. A foehn wind or föhn wind is a type of dry downslope wind which occurs in the lee of a mountain range Combined with a steady influx of warm, moist south-westerly winds from the Atlantic Ocean, warmed by the Gulf stream, it gives Molde a climate much warmer than its latitude would indicate. The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful warm and swift Atlantic Ocean current that Latitude, usually denoted symbolically by the Greek letter phi ( Φ) gives the location of a place on Earth (or other planetary body north or south of the The sheltered location of the city, facing south with hills to the north, mountains to the east and mountainous islands to the west, contributes to Molde's climate and unusually rich plant life, especially among species naturally growing on far lower latitudes, like maple, chestnut, oak, tilia (lime or linden), beech, yew, and others. Acer ( maple) is a Genus of Trees or Shrubs They are variously classified in a family of their own the Aceraceae, or Chestnut ( Castanea) (including some chinkapin or Chinquapin) is a Genus of eight or nine Species of Deciduous The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of about 400 species of Trees and Shrubs in the Genus Quercus (from Latin Tilia is a Genus of about 30 species of Trees native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere, in Asia (where the greatest For the babyfood see Beech-Nut. Beech ( Fagus) is a genus of ten Species of Deciduous Trees in the

Points of interest

There is salmon, sea trout and sea char in the rivers of the area, especially the Rauma, Driva, and Eira, already legendary among the British gentry in the mid-1800s. Salmon is the common name for several species of Fish of the family Salmonidae. The brown trout ( Salmo trutta morpha fario and S trutta morpha lacustris) and the sea trout ( S Salvelinus is a Genus of salmonid Fish, often called char or charr; many of the fish called " Trouts quot also The Rauma is a River in the counties of Oppland and Møre og Romsdal in Norway. The Driva river runs through Sør-Trøndelag and Møre og Romsdal counties in Norway. Gentry generally refers to people of high Social class, especially in the past Trout is abundant in most lakes. Trout is the common name given to a number of Species of Freshwater Fish belonging to the Salmonidae family Cod, pollock, saithe, mackerel and other species of saltwater fish are commonly caught in the Romsdalsfjord, both from land and from boat. Cod is the common name for the Genus Gadus of Fish, belonging to the family Gadidae, and is also used in the common name of a variety Pollock (or pollack, pronounced the same and listed first in most UK and US dictionaries is the common name used for either of the two Species of marine Pollock (or pollack, pronounced the same and listed first in most UK and US dictionaries is the common name used for either of the two Species of marine Mackerel is a common name applied to a number of different species of Fish, mostly but not exclusively from the family Scombridae. Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two Skiing is a popular activity among the inhabitants of Molde in the winter, both on groomed tracks, in resorts or by own trail. Snow skiing is a group of sports utilizing Skis as primary equipment There are several popular rock climbing, ice climbing, bouldering, glacier and basejumping areas in the immediate surroundings of Molde. Rock climbing is a Sport in which participants climb up or across natural rock formations or man-made rock walls with the goal of reaching the Ice climbing, as the term indicates is the activity of ascending inclined ice formations Bouldering is a style of Rock climbing undertaken without a rope and normally limited to very short climbs so that a fall will not result in serious injury "Glacial" and "Glaciation" redirect here For the geological periods see Glacial period. BASE jumping is involving the use of a Parachute or the sequenced use of a Wingsuit and parachute to jump from fixed objects--with the parachute unopened at the jump

The Atlantic road was voted the Norwegian Construction of the Century in 2005. Situated in Møre og Romsdal county Norway, Atlanterhavsveien (lit It is built on bridges and landfills across small islands and skerries, and spans from the small communities of Vikan and Vevang to Averøy, an island with several historic landmarks, such as the Bremsnes cave with Mesolithic findings from the Fosna culture, the medieval Kvernes stave church, and Langøysund, now a remote fishing community, but once a bustling port along the main coastal route. Averøy is a municipality in the county of Møre og Romsdal, Norway. The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age was a period in the development of human technology in between the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age and the Neolithic or New Stone Age The Fosna/Hensbacka (ca8300 BC - 7300 BCor (12000 calBP-10500 cal Kvernes stave church ( Kvernes Stavkyrkje) is a Stave church located at Averøy municipality Nordmøre, Norway. Langøysund was the site of the compromise between King Magnus I and the farmers along the coast in 1040. Magnus I (1024 - October 25, 1047) was the King of Norway from 1035 to 1047 and the King of Denmark from 1042 to 1047 The compromise is regarded as Norway's Magna Carta, and is commemorated by the Pilespisser (English: Arrowheads) monument. Magna Carta ( Latin for Great Charter, literally " Great Paper " also called Magna Carta Libertatum ( Great Charter of Freedoms English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States

Trollkirka (English: lit. Troll Church) is a marble grotto leading up to an underground waterfall. The grotto is situated 30 minutes outside Molde, followed by a 1 hour hike up a steep trail. Trollveggen is Europe’s tallest vertical, overhanging mountain face, with several very difficult climbing routes. The Troll Wall ( Trollveggen) is part of the mountain Massif Trolltindene (Troll Peaks in the Romsdal valley near Åndalsnes Trollstigen is the most visited tourist road in Norway. Trollstigen (The Troll Ladder is a mountain road in Rauma, Norway, part of Norwegian national road 63 connecting Åndalsnes in Rauma and Valldal in The road twists and turns its way up an almost vertical mountainside through 11 hairpin bends to an altitude of 858 m. Mardalsfossen is the highest waterfall in Northern Europe and the fourth highest waterfall in the world, cascading 297 metres down into the valley. A waterfall is usually a geological formation resulting from water often in the form of a Stream, flowing over an Erosion -resistant rock Northern Europe is a term for the northern part of Europe. The United Nations defines Northern Europe as (Finland The total height of the waterfall is 655 m.

Bud is a fishing village on the very tip of the Romsdal peninsula. Bud is a fishing village (est 700 in western Norway, on the Atlantic Road, outside the city of Kristiansund. A peninsula is a piece of land that is nearly surrounded by Water but connected to Mainland via an Isthmus. It gained importance during the Middle Ages as a trading post, and hosted the last free Privy 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 (today Trondheim). A privy council is a body that advises the Head of state of a nation on how to exercise their executive authority, typically but not always in the context of a The Protestant Reformation was a reform movement in Europe that began in 1517 though its roots lie further back in time In Christianity, an archbishop is an elevated Bishop. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion and others this means that they lead (Trondhjem is a city and municipality in the county of Sør-Trøndelag, Norway. The massive Ergan coastal defences, a restored German coastal fort from World War II, and a part of the Atlantic Wall, is situated in Bud. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Atlantikwall ( English: Atlantic wall) was an extensive system of coastal fortifications built by the German Third Reich The fishing communities of Ona, Bjørnsund and Håholmen are located on remote islands off the coast, only accessible by boat or ferry.

Moldemarka

Main article: Moldemarka

Moldemarka, the hilly woodland area north of the city, is public land. Moldemarka is the general term used to describe the 30km² hilly and mostly wood-clad recreational area north of the city of Molde in the county of Møre In all modern States some land is held by central or local Governments This is called public land. The area has a network of paths, walking trails and skiing tracks. Forest roads enter the area from several directions. There are bulletin boards with maps and information about local plants and wildlife, as well as signposts along the trails. Marked trails lead to a number of peaks, sites and fishing lakes and rivers. A fishing permit is required to fish in the lakes.

Varden (407 metres above sea level) is a viewpoint directly above Molde, with a good view of the city, the fjord with the Molde archipelago and the Molde panorama. Romsdalsfjord is the ninth longest Fjord in Norway. It is 88 km long and located in Romsdal in Møre og Romsdal. The Molde Archipelago is a chain of about 50 wood-clad islands and islets 2 km south the city of Molde, Norway. The Molde Panorama is a general term used to describe the famous panoramic view of some 220 partly snow-clad peaks seen from the city of Molde, Norway

Transportation

Hurtigruta visits Molde every day, on its journey between Bergen and Kirkenes. Hurtigruten or Hurtigruta (literally "Express Route" but sometimes referred to as Norwegian Coastal Express in English is a Norwegian Passenger is the second largest city in Norway. It is located on the south-western coast of Norway in the county of Hordaland in between a group of mountains known as De syv fjell ( Finnish: Kirkkoniemi, Sámi: Girkonjárga) is the centre of the municipality of Sør-Varanger in Finnmark county Norway

The closest railway station is Åndalsnes, the terminus for Raumabanen. is a Norwegian town in the municipality of Rauma, of which it is also the administrative center

The city's airport at Årø has several daily flights to Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim, as well as weekly flights to other domestic and international destinations. Molde Airport Årø (Norwegian Molde lufthavn Årø) seves the city of Molde, Møre og Romsdal and the surrounding district of Romsdal

Culture

The seaward approach to Molde is dominated by the sixteen-storied Rica Seilet Hotel.

Three of the four great Norwegian authors spent time, stayed or lived in Molde. Norwegian literature is literature composed in Norway or by Norwegian people. Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson spent his childhood years at Nesset outside Molde, and attended school in the city. Bjørnstjerne Martinus Bjørnson ( 8 December, 1832 – 26 April, 1910) was a Norwegian writer and the 1903 Nobel Prize in Nesset is a municipality in the county of Møre og Romsdal, Norway on the Romsdal Peninsula. Henrik Ibsen frequently spent his vacations at the mansion Moldegård, visiting the family Møller, and Alexander Kielland resided in the city as the governor of Romsdals amt. "Ibsen" redirects here For other people named Ibsen see Ibsen (disambiguation. Alexander Lange Kielland (ɑlɛksɑndər ˈlɑŋːə ˈçɛlːɑn ( 18 February 1849 &ndash 6 April 1906) was one of the most famous is a county in the northernmost part of Western Norway. It borders the counties of Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane. 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 never being mentioned by name. Rosmersholm is a play written in 1886 by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. For the painting "Lady from the sea" see Edvard Munch The Lady from the Sea (original Norwegian title Fruen fra havet Other authors from or with ties to Molde include Edvard Hoem, Jo Nesbø, Knut Ødegård, and Nini Roll Anker, a friend of Sigrid Undset. Jo Nesbø (born 29 March 1960) is a Norwegian bestselling Author and formerly a pop Musician. Knut Ødegård (born 6 November 1945) is a Norwegian Writer. Born in Molde, Norway Ødegård made his poetic debut in 1967 Sigrid Undset ( 20 May, 1882 &ndash 10 June, 1949) was a Norwegian novelist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature

The Romsdal Museum, one of Norway's largest folk museums, was established in 1912. The Romsdal Museum (no Romsdalsmuseet in Molde, Norway was founded by Peter Tønder Solemdal in 1912 and is one of the largest and most extensive folk museums in A museum is a "permanent institution in the service of society and of its development open to the public which acquires conserves researches communicates and exhibits the 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, smokehouses and a small chapel. In common historic and modern usage a hearth (Har-th is a Brick - or stone -lined Fireplace or Oven used for Cooking and/or Heating The "town street" with Mali's Café shows typical Molde town houses from the pre-World War I period. The Museum of the Fisheries is an open air museum located on the island of Hjertøya, 10 minutes from the center of Molde. A small fishing village with authentic buildings, boats and fishing equipment, the museum shows local coastal culture from 1850 onwards.

The local newspaper is Romsdals Budstikke^[2]. Romsdals Budstikke is a daily (except Sundays Newspaper published in Molde, Norway.

Also the singer/songwriter Ane Brun was born in Molde. Ane Brun (IPA ænə brun) real name Ane Brunvoll (born 10 March 1976) is a Norwegian Singer / Songwriter

Festivals

The Moldejazz jazz festival is held in Molde every July. Molde International Jazz Festival (MIJF (established 1961 in Molde) takes place annually in July and is known as one of the oldest Jazz festivals in Europe Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Moldejazz is the largest and oldest jazz festival in Europe, and one of the most important. An estimated 40,000 tickets are sold for the more than a hundred events during the festival. Between 80,000 and 100,000 visitors visit the city during the one-week long festival.

Every August, Molde and Nesset are hosts to the Bjørnson Festival, an international literature festival. Nesset is a municipality in the county of Møre og Romsdal, Norway on the Romsdal Peninsula. The Bjørnson Festival of international literature is held in Molde and Nesset, Norway, every August since 1992 and is named in honour of the Nobel Established by the poet Knut Ødegård in connection with the 250-year anniversary of Molde, the festival is named in honour of the Nobel Prize in Literature laureate Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (1832-1910). The Nobel Prize in Literature (Nobelpriset i litteratur is awarded annually since 1901 to an author from any country who has in the words from the will of Alfred Bjørnstjerne Martinus Bjørnson ( 8 December, 1832 – 26 April, 1910) was a Norwegian writer and the 1903 Nobel Prize in It is the oldest and the most internationally acclaimed literature festival in Norway.

In addition to the two major events, a number of minor festivals are held annually. Byfest, the city's celebration of itself, is an arrangement by local artists, coinciding with the anniversary of the royal charter of June 29, 1742. Events 512 - A Solar eclipse is recorded by a monastic chronicler in Ireland. Year 1742 ( MDCCXLII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a

Education

Molde University College offers a wide range of academic opportunities, from nursing and health related studies, to economics and administrative courses. Molde University College ( Norwegian: Høgskolen i Molde) or HiM, also called the Norwegian School of Logistics is a Norwegian The school is one of Norway's leading colleges in research and academic programs in information technology, logistics and transport economics, with degrees up to and including PhD.

Molde University College is also one of the country's leading institutions in international student exchange and programs conducted in English.

Sports

Molde hosts a variety of sports teams, most notably the football team, Molde F.K.[1], which is playing in the Norwegian Premier League. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Molde FK is a First Division football club from Molde, Norway. Tippeligaen is the top division for football in Norway. Its official Norwegian name is Tippeligaen after its sponsor Norsk Tipping Home matches are played at Aker stadium, an architectural feat inaugurated in 1998, which holds a record attendance of 13,308. Aker stadion (called Molde stadion until May 2006 is a football stadium built at Reknes in Molde, Norway. 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. See also List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League winners The UEFA Champions League, which evolved from the European Champion Clubs' Cup is a seasonal club 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. Underwater Rugby (UWR is a quite young sport that has its origin in the physical fitness training of German diving clubs and has little in common with “normal” Rugby except L. K, several accomplished team handballclubs (S. Handball (also known as team handball, European handball, or Olympic handball) is a Team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six K. Træff, S. K. Rival), athletics teams, skiing clubs, basketball and volleyball teams.

Sister cities

Molde has five sister cities. They are:

• Vejle, Denmark
• Borås, Sweden
• Mikkeli, Finland
• Česká Lípa, Czech Republic
• Bardejov, Slovakia

Famous residents

Main article: Famous residents of Molde

• Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, writer, Nobel Prize laureate (1832-1910)
• Ole Anton Qvam former Prime Minister, (1834-1904)
• Kjell Magne Bondevik, politician, former Prime Minister (1947-)
• Bjørn Trygve Grydeland, President of ESA, EU Ambassador (1949-)
• Bjørn Rune Gjelsten, businessman (1956-)
• Kjell Inge Røkke, businessman (1958-)
• Jo Nesbø, writer (1960-)
• Arild Monsen, cross-country skier (1962-)
• Kjetil Rekdal, football player and manager (1968-)
• Mette Solli, kickboxer (1974-)
• Ingeborg Hungnes, singer
• Ola Kvernberg, musician
• Ann-Helen Moen, soprano

References

External links

• Tourist information
• Molde University college
• Molde International Jazz Festival
• Romsdals Budstikke
• Molde F.K.
• VS Molde Futsal
• View the Molde panorama
• Images from Molde and Romsdal