Molde

Our cruise port stop in Molde, known as the City of Roses and Jazz, began with a break in the weather. A touch of sunlight filtered through the clouds, lighting up the waterfront and offering a brief but stunning preview of the day to come. With time to spare before our scheduled shore tour, we ventured out for a quick city street walk—just enough to soak in the charm of this coastal town nestled between the fjords and mountains.

Our tour, aptly titled “The Beauty of Norway,” took us aboard a coach for an unforgettable journey through some of Norway’s most iconic landscapes. Our first destination: the Rødven Stave Church, a wooden stave church over 800 years old, located near the shores of the Romsdal Fjord. The drive took us along parts of the world-famous Atlantic Ocean Road, though the overcast conditions made visibility limited as we wound through misty fjordlands and low-lying clouds.

After our visit to the church, we retraced our path along the Atlantic Road and stopped at one of its many scenic points. We took the opportunity to walk around a small island and catch a dramatic glimpse of the largest of the eight bridges—Storseisundet Bridge—a modern marvel of engineering that appears to leap into the sea. The weather, as it often does on the Atlantic coast, turned quickly. Fierce winds and cold rain returned just as we were finishing our walk. Thankfully, the warmth of our tour bus was only a few minutes away.

Our final stop took us high above Molde to the Varden Viewpoint, which offers panoramic views of the town, its peaks, with some snow remaining and the fjord below. As if to reward our journey, the sun broke through once more, casting light across the shimmering water and mountain ranges, giving us a perfect photo opportunity and a fitting end to our scenic adventure.En savoir plus