Molde

Molde Municipality

*Molde kommune*
Molde Municipality Molde kommune
Municipality
	Flag Coat of arms
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Country	Norway
County	Møre og Romsdal
District	Romsdal
Administrative centre	Molde
Government
• Governor (2005)	Jan Petter Hammerø (H)
Area
• Total	363 km2 (140 sq mi)
• Land	355 km2 (137 sq mi)
• Rank	#254 in Norway
Population (2004)
• Total	24,041
• Rank	#35 in Norway
• Density	68/km2 (180/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	+6%
Official language
• Norwegian form	Neutral
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-1502
Website	Official website
	Data from Statistics Norway

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Molde is a city and municipality in the county of Møre og Romsdal, Norway. Neighboring municipalities are Aukra, Fræna, Gjemnes, Nesset, Rauma, Vestnes, and Midsund.

Located on the north shore of the Romsdalsfjord, Molde is known as the Town of Roses, and famous for its spectacular panoramic view to the snow-clad peaks on the south side of the fjord. It is regional capital of Møre og Romsdal and hosts the bishop of Møre.

The city has an airport at Årø, with regular flights to Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim. From 2004, there are also regular flights to Spain.

Molde has a university college specializing in information technology, transport economics and logistics, with degrees up to and including PhD.

The local newspaper is Romsdals Budstikke.

The consulate general for the Republic of Macedonia in Norway is situated in Molde.

Two notable persons from Molde are politician and former prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik and businessman Kjell Inge Røkke.

Tourism

Molde was already a popular destination for tourists in the late 19th century, Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany being a regular summer visitor. Drawn by the natural splendour of its surroundings, where visitors can enjoy a magnificent view of more than 220 mountain peaks from all over the city, but preferrably from the viewpoint Varden, it became a desired port of call for the yachts and cruise ships of the European gentry up until World War I. The city was an idyllic setting with a large number of gardens and flowers among the mostly wooden buildings, earning it the nickname "the Town of Roses".

Molde is still a major cruise ship and tourist destination.

Another famous attraction is the Royal Birch at Glomstua, which is where King Haakon VII and Crown Prince Olav sought to hide during the German World War II bombing of the city in April 1940. Close to the Royal Birch is the international Grove of Peace (see Bjørnson Festival).

Culture

Three of "the Great Four" Norwegian authors spent time, stayed or lived in Molde. Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson grew up outside Molde and attended school there, Henrik Ibsen spent vacations at the mansion Moldegård,, and Alexander Kielland resided in the city as the governor of Romsdals amt (name of Møre og Romsdal up until 1920). Ibsen's play Rosmersholm is clearly inspired by the life at Moldegård, and the play The Lady from the Sea is also set in the city of Molde (although there are no direct references in the play, the geographical descriptions match perfectly). Other authors from, or with strong bonds to Molde, include Edvard Hoem, Jo Nesbø, Knut Ødegård, and Nini Roll Anker, a dear friend of Sigrid Undset. The city of Molde has also been the home of several internationally known rock groups such as Lash Out (1992–98) and Bannlyst (1985–87), and also to singer/songwriter Ane Brun.

Festivals

Every July, Molde is host to the oldest international jazz festival of Europe, Moldejazz. Musical artists such as Miles Davis, BB King, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, James Brown, Bob Dylan, Santana, Paul Simon, Joe Cocker, and Lauryn Hill have performed at the jazz festival.

Every August, Molde and Nesset host an international literature festival, the Bjørnson Festival.

Additionally a number of smaller and shorter festivals are held annually, such as blues and roots festivals, and a watersports festival.

History

Originating from the two farms Reknes and Molde (later renamed Moldegård), a small port called Molde fjære originated in the Middle Ages, based on trade with timber and herring. In 1614 the town gained formal trading rights, and in 1742 it was finally incorporated through a royal charter. One third of the city, mostly wooden buildings and rose gardens, was destroyed in a fire on 21 and January 22, 1916.

A second fire, or series of fire, struck from the German air-raids in April 1940, destroying about two thirds of the city. The Germans were chasing the king, the cabinet and national gold reserves, evacuated from Oslo. From 22 to April 29 Molde was de facto capital of Norway, until the advancing German forces, combined with a failed British counter-attack, forced the Norwegian commander-in-chief, General Otto Ruge, to abandon Southern Norway and continue the fight from Tromsø.

Sports

Molde hosts a variety of sports teams. Most notably the local football team, Molde F.K., playing in the Norwegian Premier League (2005), and the holder of two national championships (1994 and 2005). The city has also produced several skijumpers, cross-country and alpine skiers of international merits.

Other sports include the local underwater rugby team, Molde S.L.K, one of the best in Europe, as well as S.K. Træff, with a team in the Norwegian first divisjon of women's handball, and S.K. Rival, the mother club of olympic alpine skier Andrine Flemmen.

Friendship towns

Molde has several friendship towns:

External links

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^ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
^ Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (2023-01-26). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.

[1] "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.

[2] Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (2023-01-26). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.

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