Places with a story

Devold museum

Devold museum places the history of wool clothing inside the factory environment that helped build Langevåg. In Sula, the museum connects familiar knitted garments with industrial innovation, local employment and the growth of a community beside the fjord.

Get to know the municipalitySula

The place² ³

Devold's story began in 1853, when Ole Andreas Devold established textile production in Ålesund. The museum follows the company's long history in the former factory setting. Woollen underwear, fishermen's mittens and the traditional red cap show how the business grew from practical needs on the western Norwegian coast.

History and local connections³ ⁴

Production moved to Langevåg in 1868. The factory's history includes early electrification and telephone connections as well as machinery for making clothing. Devold's own account describes housing and services established around the workplace, including a hospital, church and kindergarten, demonstrating how industrial development reshaped the settlement beyond the factory walls.

What to look for¹ ⁴

The surrounding factory complex adds another dimension to the exhibition. The operator describes electrical lighting in the weaving hall in 1883, powered by a water turbine. Today the old industrial setting also contains shops, crafts and other activities. Compare those new uses with the museum's account of production to see how an industrial place can remain active.

Planning a visit²

The museum is on the second floor above KANTINA café. Consult Devoldfabrikken's specific museum page for current opening hours and admission arrangements, and contact the operator about access needs. The museum and the wider factory's businesses share a setting, but individual activities may have their own programmes and opening times.