Molde

NORWAY

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Molde

Molde is a city and municipality in the county of Møre og Romsdal, Norway.
The city is the administrative center in the county of Møre og Romsdal - and the episcopal residence of the diocese of Møre.
An old settlement emerging as a trading post in the late Middle Ages, formal rights were introduced in 1614, and the city was incorporated through a royal charter in 1742. The city of Molde was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). The rural municipality of Bolsøy, and parts of Veøy, merged with Molde January 1, 1964.

The name

The city is named after the original settlement on the farmstead of Molde (Norse Moldar). The name is either the plural form of mold f 'fertile soil', or *moldr m 'skull, mould' (thus in reference to the rounded peaks in Moldemarka).

Pronunciation varies between the standard Molde, and the rural Molle. A person from Molde will refer to him/herself as a Moldenser

Geography

Located on the northern shore of the Romsdalsfjord on the Romsdal Peninsula, Molde, also known as the Town of Roses, is famous for its spectacular panorama of the snow-clad peaks on the southern side of the fjord. In addition to being regional capital of Møre og Romsdal, and the commercial hub of Romsdal, the city also hosts the bishop of Møre.

Neighboring municipalities are Aukra, Gjemnes, Nesset, Eide, Averøy and Midsund, and neighboring towns and townships are Åndalsnes in Rauma, Elnesvågen in Fræna, and Vestnes.