Lerstad

We’re now driving through Lerstad, a district that marks the transition from countryside to city. You might be wondering about Ålesund’s early history. The name Ålesund actually appeared quite late in written records. In the oldest sources, we instead find places like Steinvåg, mentioned as early as the 11th century in connection with Saint Olav, Erling Skakke, and King Sverre. At that time, Borgund and Giske were the main centers of activity in the area. Borgund, which we’ll soon pass, was a small medieval town with lively trade, a church, and bustling life along the coast. By the 1700s, the priest Hans Strøm described Ålesund merely as a narrow sound between the islands of Nørvøya and Aspøya, with just a few houses and merchants. But the town slowly grew — driven largely by fishing. The spring cod fishery in the Borgundfjord led to permanent settlement, and the drying of codfish, or klippfisk, became the city’s most important industry. From these modest beginnings, Ålesund developed into a vibrant community — and eventually, a city known throughout the world.