Varden - the Molde panorama. From the Varden viewpoint (407 m.a.s.) there is a good view of the town of Molde, the fjord and islands and the famous Molde panorama with its 222 partially snow-clad peaks. On clear days you can see as far as the fishing village of Ona and the dreaded waters of the Hustadvika bay. 10 minutes by car or 1 hour’s walk along the nature trail from the centre of Molde. At the top you will find the Vardestua restaurant (May-October), where you can enjoy a good meal in a good atmosphere. There are marked trails which leads you into the Moldemarka countryside.
The Romsdal Museum. One of the largest and most comprehensive folk museums in Norway, established in 1912. More than 50 old buildings originating from all over the region have been moved here to form typical country courtyards of farm buildings, including open hearth houses, sheds, outhouses, smokehouses and a small chapel. The Town Street with Mali’s Café shows typical Molde town houses from the pre-war period. At Holmarka the museum has a stable which houses the museum’s horse, hens, sheep and rabbits. Folk dancing displays by the children’s folk dance group, Leikarringen, in connection with 40-50 cruise ship visits every summer. During the Molde International Jazz Festival, the Romsdal Museum is used as the open-air stage for the big outdoor concerts.
The Fisheries Museum on Hjertøya. The Fisheries Museum is in the form of a small fishing village with old houses, fishermen’s shacks, cod-liver oil factory, engineering workshop and schoolroom. It portrays local coastal culture, working life and living conditions from around 1850. Large collection of boats and maritime equipment. The Hjertøya island is a great recreational area where you can hire rowing boats, fish or swim in the sea. Free Schwitters exhibition in the barn. Café and kiosk in the weekends. Tel. (+47) 93 42 54 06. In the summer the Hjertøy Boat has regular departures from the quay by the market square in Molde. Separate prices.
From boat approaching Fishing Museum
Jazzgutten - The Jazz Boy. On the lower market place, with the fjord and the mountains as a backdrop, is the bronze statue “Jazzgutten”, a young jazz player with his saxophone. The sculpture by Nina Due, was a gift from the people to commemorate the town’s 250th anniversary in 1992.
The green corridor. The green corridor runs from the sea at Reknes to the Chateau (baroque villa), continuing through the Reknes Park up to the ”Pavillion” at the Rekneshaugen viewpoint. The nature trail then passes through the Romsdal Museum and proceeds to Varden (407 m.a.s.), from where you can enjoy a marvellous view of the town, the fjord and the Molde panorama.
Molde Cathedral. The cathedral, which was consecrated in 1957, is a double-nave long church in the Gothic style. A 50 metre high freestanding bell tower culminates in a copper-clad pyramid. The interior of the church contains some lovely stained glass and is richly decorated with Christian symbols and signs. It is the third church to be built on the site. The two first ones burned down, but an old wooden cross and Axel Ender’s famous “Easter Morning” altarpiece were rescued from the flames.
Rosepiken - The Rose Maiden and the Town Hall. At the Town Hall Square in the “Town of Roses” stands the bronze statue “Rosepiken”, surrounded by a dancing fountain. The Rose Maiden is young and beautiful, and has her arms full of roses. The sculpture was a gift to Molde in 1971 from Gotlib Moe. It was sculpted by Ragnhild Butenschøn. Molde Town Hall was completed in 1966 and is the result of an architectural competition won by the architects Cappelen and Rodahl. The roof of the town hall boasts one of the town’s most beautiful rose gardens.
Aker Stadium. One of Norway’s most modern football stadiums, seating 11 200. The stadium is situated on the waterfront to the west of the town centre and is designed by the Molde architect Kjell Kosberg. It has a granite and glass frontage. The stadium was paid for by Kjell Inge Røkke and Bjørn Rune Gjelsten and cost 212 million Norwegian kroner in 1998.
Molde Cruise Ship Harbour. Molde has long been a port of call for cruise ships, and the town was one of the main attractions when the first cruise ship with paying passengers visited Norway in 1882. Every summer, 40-50 cruise ships call at Molde Harbour.
The Royal Birch and the Peace Grove. The place where King Haakon and Crown Prince Olav sought shelter from German bombers in April 1940 when they were being hunted by the German occupying forces. The Peace Grove next to the Royal Birch was founded by Knut Ødegård, president of the Bjørnson Festival in 1997. It symbolises the continuing struggle for freedom, peace and human dignity both today and in the future.
Moldemarka hiking area. The area to the north of Molde, Moldemarka, is a great walking/skiing area all year round with its network of paths, walking trails and skiing tracks. Several of the forest roads take you into wilderness areas where there are information boards with maps at many of the starting points, as well as signposts along the trails. In winter there are approx. 10 km of prepared skiing tracks and a good 7 km of these are floodlit. Outside the skiing season, the “classic” walk is the Gamle Vardeveg road from the Romsdal Museum via the Storlihytta cabin to Varden (407 m.a.s.). It takes about one hour to reach the top, where in summer you can buy refreshments at the Vardestua restaurant. The eastern part of Moldemarka is easily accessible from the car park at Jensgurulia in Nordbyen. To the west, we recommend the Meekdalen valley and the Kringstadsetra summer pasture farm, while further inland you can walk up to Frænavarden (588 m.a.s.) and Valltua (586 m.a.s.). There are many breathtaking views. Walking maps for Molde and Fræna can be bought in bookshops and at the tourist office.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Molde
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Molde - updated Apr 2024
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Molde Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
