Molde
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| Missing image Molde_kart.png Image:Molde kart.png | ||
| County | Møre og Romsdal | |
| Landscape | Romsdal | |
| Municipality | NO-1502 | |
| Administrative centre | Molde | |
| Mayor (2005) | Jan Petter Hammerø (H) | |
| Official language form | Neutral | |
| Area - Total - Land - Percentage | Ranked 254 363 km² 355 km² 0.11 % | |
| Population - Total (2004) - Percentage - Change (10 years) - Density | Ranked 35 24,041 0.53 % 6.0 % 68/km² | |
| Coordinates | Template:Coor dm | |
| www.molde.kommune.no Data from Statistics Norway (http://www.ssb.no/english/municipalities/1502) | ||
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 Romsdalsfjord, Molde is known as the city of roses. It is county capital of Møre og Romsdal and host for 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 small university college specialized in information sciences, transport economics and logistics, with education up to and including PhD.
The local newspaper is named Romsdals Budstikke. The local papers Romsdal Folkeblad and Fylket both went bankrupt in the late 20th century.
Two notable persons from Molde are politician Kjell Magne Bondevik and businessman Kjell Inge Røkke.
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Tourism
Molde was already a popular destination for tourists in the late 19th century, Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany being a regular summer visitor. The city was then recognized by a large number of gardens and flowers among the mostly wooden buildings, and was given the nickname the city of roses.
Visitors can enjoy a magnificent view of more than 220 remote mountain peaks from the viewpoint Varden.
Another famous attraction is the King's 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.
Molde_im_Februar_2005.jpg
Culture
Three of "the great four" Norwegian authors have stayed or lived in Molde. Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson attended school in Molde, Henrik Ibsen spent a couple of periods at the mansion Moldegård, whose owner he knew, and Alexander Kielland resided as the county mayor of Romsdals Amt (name of Møre og Romsdal up to 1920). The Ibsen play Rosmersholm is clearly inspired by the life at Moldegård, and possibly the play The Lady From The Sea is set in the city of Molde (although there is no such reference 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 renowed 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 and Joe Cocker 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 major farms Reknes and Molde (later renamed Moldegård), a small port called Molde fjære was formed, based on trade with timber and herring. In 1614 the town gained formal trading rights, and in 1742 cityhood. 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 struck when the Germans bombed the city in April 1940, destroying about two thirds of the city. The Germans were chasing the king, his government and gold reserves, which were fleeing, and thus stayed in Molde from 22 to April 29, making Molde the capital of Norway for a week.
Sports
The local football team, Molde F.K., plays in the Norwegian Premier League (2005); and the local underwater rugby team, Molde S.L.K, is one of the best in Europe.
Other major sports clubs include 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.
External links
- Tourist information (http://www.visitmolde.com/)
- Molde University college (http://www.himolde.no/)
- Molde International Jazz Festival (http://www.moldejazz.no/)
- Romsdals Budstikke (http://www.r-b.no/)
- Molde F.K. (http://www.moldefk.no/)
- VS Molde Futsal (http://www.vistiller.com/vistiller/)
| Municipalities of Møre og Romsdal | Missing image More_og_Romsdal_vapen.png Møre og Romsdal coat of arms |
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Aukra | Aure | Averøy | Eide | Frei | Fræna | Giske | Gjemnes | Halsa | Haram | Hareid | Herøy | Kristiansund | Midsund | Molde | Nesset | Norddal | Rauma | Rindal | Sande | Sandøy | Skodje | Smøla | Stordal | Stranda | Sula | Sunndal | Surnadal | Sykkylven | Tingvoll | Tustna | Ulstein | Vanylven | Vestnes | Volda | Ørskog | Ørsta | Ålesund | |