Scandinavian Discovery - Bergen, Norway 25/7
Sunday 25th July
Bergen, Norway
About Bergen
Bergen is an international town with small-town charm and atmosphere. The inhabitants love to show off their beautiful and many-sided city. They are proud of Bergen’s shipping, trading and cultural traditions. The city with its 250,000 inhabitants is like a spectacular amphitheatre clambering up the mountainsides, overlooking the sea, embracing you. You can roam through living history in this modern city, the gateway to the wildest and loveliest fjords of Norway. Tradition, initiative and drive have made Bergen one of Norway’s most vigorous cultural cities. It is not merely by chance that Norway’s biggest cultural event, the Bergen International Festival, is held here each year, or that the town was chosen to be one of the European Cities of Culture in the year 2000. The old parts of town are living history, and the museums and galleries keep both art and the ancestral heritage alive. The Hanseatic wharf Bryggen, the Fish Market, the composer Edvard Grieg’s home at Troldhaugen, Rasmus Meyer’s art collection, the Aquarium and Old Bergen are just a few of the many attractions worth visiting.
Bergen is an international town with small-town charm and atmosphere. The inhabitants love to show off their beautiful and many-sided city. They are proud of Bergen’s shipping, trading and cultural traditions. The city with its 250,000 inhabitants is like a spectacular amphitheatre clambering up the mountainsides, overlooking the sea, embracing you. You can roam through living history in this modern city, the gateway to the wildest and loveliest fjords of Norway. Tradition, initiative and drive have made Bergen one of Norway’s most vigorous cultural cities. It is not merely by chance that Norway’s biggest cultural event, the Bergen International Festival, is held here each year, or that the town was chosen to be one of the European Cities of Culture in the year 2000. The old parts of town are living history, and the museums and galleries keep both art and the ancestral heritage alive. The Hanseatic wharf Bryggen, the Fish Market, the composer Edvard Grieg’s home at Troldhaugen, Rasmus Meyer’s art collection, the Aquarium and Old Bergen are just a few of the many attractions worth visiting.
History
Bergen was founded in 1070 by King Olav Kyrre. The town was favourably situated in relation to shipping traffic and was for a long time the country’s most important commercial, shipping and industrial town. Moreover, Bergen became a commercial and shipping town of European significance and for a while, during the Middle Ages, Bergen was also the largest of all the towns in the Nordic countries. Bergen is the only town in the whole of Scandinavia, which has followed a classical European pattern of development. In the twelfth century an economic breakthrough occurred in Lübeck, which was the first town on the Baltic to become a centre for international commerce. After a time, Lübeck also influenced circumstances in Bergen, which now became the natural geographical and economic centre for the Norwegian maritime empire. Trade with the north, importing grain and exporting fish, laid the foundation for growth during the first centuries. From the fourteenth century and for several centuries, the Hanseatic merchants dominated trade. The Hanseatic merchants established one of their four most important trading stations in Bergen, the "German Office" on the Wharf. During the period from the last half of the nineteenth century until the First World War, there was strong growth in trade and industry resulting in an increase in population, from 17,000 inhabitants in 1855 to 103,500 inhabitants in 1920 (Bergen Town). It was not until the beginning of the 1830s that the population of Oslo exceeded that of Bergen. The town has fallen prey to conflagrations throughout its entire history. Buildings of the Church and State were usually constructed in stone and could therefore be repaired after damage by fire. The homes of the citizens of the town, on the other hand, were wooden buildings and therefore had to be built up again from the foundations. The Hanseatic merchants were those most observant of tradition in relation to architecture. When the Wharf was rebuilt after the great fire of 1702 for example, only a few small changes were made.
Bergen was founded in 1070 by King Olav Kyrre. The town was favourably situated in relation to shipping traffic and was for a long time the country’s most important commercial, shipping and industrial town. Moreover, Bergen became a commercial and shipping town of European significance and for a while, during the Middle Ages, Bergen was also the largest of all the towns in the Nordic countries. Bergen is the only town in the whole of Scandinavia, which has followed a classical European pattern of development. In the twelfth century an economic breakthrough occurred in Lübeck, which was the first town on the Baltic to become a centre for international commerce. After a time, Lübeck also influenced circumstances in Bergen, which now became the natural geographical and economic centre for the Norwegian maritime empire. Trade with the north, importing grain and exporting fish, laid the foundation for growth during the first centuries. From the fourteenth century and for several centuries, the Hanseatic merchants dominated trade. The Hanseatic merchants established one of their four most important trading stations in Bergen, the "German Office" on the Wharf. During the period from the last half of the nineteenth century until the First World War, there was strong growth in trade and industry resulting in an increase in population, from 17,000 inhabitants in 1855 to 103,500 inhabitants in 1920 (Bergen Town). It was not until the beginning of the 1830s that the population of Oslo exceeded that of Bergen. The town has fallen prey to conflagrations throughout its entire history. Buildings of the Church and State were usually constructed in stone and could therefore be repaired after damage by fire. The homes of the citizens of the town, on the other hand, were wooden buildings and therefore had to be built up again from the foundations. The Hanseatic merchants were those most observant of tradition in relation to architecture. When the Wharf was rebuilt after the great fire of 1702 for example, only a few small changes were made.
It's harbour-front, Bryggen, was a scene of thriving activity for "the Hansas" up to the 18th century. Bergen's commerce still thrives, though nowadays much of it's economic life is centred on the North Sea Oil Industry. Today, the city has expanded to an area of 465 sq. km and a population of approximately 240.000. We are a university city and have a major business and commerce college, as well as many other colleges for further education.
BRYGGEN IN BERGEN
The very first buildings in Bergen were alongside the harbour called Bryggen. The old Hanseatic wharf is architecturally unique and is included on the UNESCO list of world heritage of history and culture.
BRYGGENS MUSEUM - BERGEN CITY MUSEUM
A cultural history museum based on finds made during the archaeological excavations at Bryggen between 1955 and 1972, showing the foundations of the city's oldest buildings from the 12th century on their original site. Also temporary exhibitions.
HAAKON'S HALL - BERGEN CITY MUSEUM
The medieval Castle Håkon's Hall was built during the reign of King Haakon Haakonsson between 1247 and 1261. It was the largest and most imposing building of the royal residency in 13th century Bergen, then the political centre of Norway.
BERGEN MUSEUM - THE CULTURAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS
Collections ranging form the Age of antiquity and the Middle Ages right up to the present day. West Norway is particularly well represented. Archaeological finds, urban and rural history collections, a textile section and a rich ethnographic collection.
BERGEN SCHOOL MUSEUM - BERGEN CITY MUSEUM
Housed in a school building from 1706 in the centre of town, Bergen School Museum welcomes you to a trip through the history of education. Learn about our educational system, and experience how the classroom view of the outside world has changed.
FLØIBANEN FUNICULAR
An 8-minute ride to the top of Mount Fløyen (altitude 320 m). Runs every half hour, every 15 minutes if necessary. A magnificent view over Bergen and the suburbs. Ideal for mountain walks. Souvenir shop open all year. Children's playground and concerts during summer.
FRESCO HALL - TOURIST INFORMATION
Bergen's Tourist Information Centre is in The Fresco Hall situated in Vågsallmenning Square opposite the Fish Market. The building itself is one of the city's art treasures. In these beautiful and spacious surroundings, information is available about what to do in Bergen and all of Fjord Norway.
MARITIME MUSEUM
Bergen Maritime Museum presents the history of shipping, its development and importance to Bergen and Norway in the past and today. The exhibitions offer a vast collection of ship models - including Viking ships - paintings, marine archaeological findings and various items related to seamanship and life on board. Film, library, photo archive, ship register.
TROLDHAUGEN HOME OF COMPOSER EDVARD GRIEG
The home of composer Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) and his wife Nina. Grieg lived here for 22 years and composed many of his best-known works in the little garden. Also visit the cliff-hewn tomb where he was buried, the concert hall "Troldsalen" and the museum.
ULRIKEN643
ULRIKEN643
The Unriken643 Panoramic Tour takes you by cable car to the highest of Bergen’s famous ‘Seven Mountains’. The tour takes you to spectacular scenery and mountain terrain 643 metres above the city streets.
HANSEATIC MUSEUM
HANSEATIC MUSEUM
One of the oldest and best preserved wooden buildings in Bergen, furnished in 18th century style to provide an intimate picture of the life of a Hanseatic merchant.
TORGET I BERGEN
Bergen's famous Fish Market. Here you will also find fruit, vegetables, flowers, handicrafts, and souvenirs.
The Journey
Leaving Balestrand and driving to Dragsvik we join the short 30 minute crossing to Vangnes, our journey continues towards the Vikfjellt, photo opportunities on the way, a little waterfall stop before arriving in Voss for our lunch, not a great deal of choice, a self service café next to the coach park, a little café lake side and a couple of other restaurants nearby. Leaving Voss we start the drive towards our final destination, Bergen, on arrival I will be pointing out some of the major highlights that the city has to offer.
Comments
Post a Comment