Scandinavje Hotell

One more detail -- I love the sweetness of this face adorning the hotel doorway.

Chairs

There's nothing at all early 20th century about these chairs and tables pushed together outside a cafe.

I just liked the way they looked.

Jugendstil details

Even the phone booth gets in the spirit of Art Nouveau.

I love the grillwork on the building below.

Ålesund houses

Ålesund

This small fishing city on the coast is famous for its architecture as much as for its "cliff fish" or cod.

A devastating fire in 1904 destroyed most of the town in a few hours. Architects came from all over Norway to help rebuild, and because many of them had been studying abroad they designed all the new buildings in various flavors of Jugendstil or Art Nouveau or New Style.

I took a walking tour to see the architecture. I don't like Art Nouveau when it gets too flowery but some of the details we see saw -- like this manhole cover -- were wonderful, and I especially loved the fishscale tiles on the roofs.

The rain held off until the very end of the tour but it was a gusty, chilly day, with only flashes of sun, so not the best conditions for photography.