Ålesund by evening
In the night of 23 January 1904, the town was the scene of the "Ålesund Fire". Practically the entire town was destroyed during the night, a gale aiding the flames, and the population had to leave the town in the middle of the night. 10,000 people were left without shelter. The town was rebuilt in stone, brick, and mortar in Jugendstil (Art Nouveau). Today Ålesund is a modern town and has the most important fishing harbour in Norway.