Bergen

Overview

Bergen was founded in 1070 by King Olav Kyrre. It's an old hanseatic city situated between 7 mountains. The city has long been Norway's most important city for trade, shipping and industry. Ships came from the north with fish, and from the south with grain, and it all traded in Bergen . During the middle Ages, Bergen was virtually (though not officially) the capitol of Norway . For a period it was also the largest city in the Nordic countries. Bergen's trade and shipping also made it one of the significant cities of Europe . The citizens of Bergen have never forgotten this. The home of composer Edvard Grieg still shows pride in its past. Bergen has been named European City of Culture for 2000.

If you arrive by sea, Bryggen, the city's famous hanseatic wharf, will meet you. Fires have always plagued the city, but Bryggen has been rebuilt in the same likeness each time. That is why this old merchant quarter still looks the same as it did when the city was young. The Hanse had its huge offices on the Bryggen for several hundred years; and it was a city within a city. Bryggen is not just Bergen's profile, it is a part of our common heritage and has been placed on UNESCO's list of cultural places worthy of preservation and is as such a World Heritage City .

It is easy to get to the top of Bergen 's highest mountain Ulriken by cable car. Or you can...more

History