Bergen, with 230 000 inhabitants,
is the second largest city in Norway, the “Capital”
of Western Norway and the Gateway to the fjords.
Bergen has all the facilities of a large, modern
city – shops, venues of culture, bars and
restaurants, while retaining a small town charm that
makes it so unique. The city centre which stretches
from the picturesque harbour can be covered through
a short walk. Mount Ulriken (608 m) is within easy
reach by cable cars, and Mount Fløien even closer by
funicular. Being surrounded by mountains there is a
multitude of hiking opportunities starting almost
outside your door.
The fish market is world renowned, and Bryggen (se
below) is on Unesco’s World Heritage List. But even
though it’s fairly small there are many things to
see and experience. The city was ravaged by fires on
several occasions, but there are still many places
of great historical interest left, among these
Håkonshallen and several medieval churches. Check
out some of the web sites below to find out more.
A little historical background:
About 1070 Olav Kyrre granted municipal status to
Bjørgvin (“hill pasture”), then a port settlement of
some importance on the east side of the Bergen
peninsula. The town developed rapidly as an
occasional royal residence. In 1233, Håkon
Håkonsson’s hereditary right to the throne was
recognized at a general assembly held here, and by
1240 Bergen was formally declared the capital of
Norway in place of Trondheim. King Håkon Håkonsson
held his court here. He was a very popular king and
his reign was long and peaceful. His son, Magnus,
married the Danish princess Ingeborg and the same
day was crowned joint King of the land of Norway by
his father. To celebrate the event, a great banquet
was held in the hall now called Håkonshallen which
stands at the entrance to the harbour of Bergen.
As early as 1236 there were permanent German trading
establishments in Bergen, but the town’s rise to
prosperity began with the establishment of a
“counting house” of the Hanseatic League, first
recorded in 1343. By virtue of the privilege granted
by the Danish kings, the German merchants quickly
gained control of the entire Norwegian trade. The
people of the northern territories were required by
royal decree to bring the produce of their fisheries
to Bergen. The Hanseatic employees lived in a
special quarter of town called Tyskebryggen (“German
wharf”).
In 1599 the power of the Hanseatic League was broken
by the feudal lord Kristofer Walckendorf, but the
counting house remained in existence for another 200
years. By 1630, the power of the Hanseatic League
was completely broken and in 1764, the last stue was
sold to a Norwegian business.
The Middle Ages saw the Black Death sweep over
Europe. Norway was devastated, having about 1/3 of
the population succumb to the pestilence. After this,
from about 1420, and for about 400 years, the rule
of Norway oscillated between Denmark and Sweden.
Bergen, during this time, remained a major trading
centre. It maintained international contact and the
old, socially elite families of Bergen built up
large trading empires. The long history of
international relations has given Bergen a
continental style of behaviour. In Norway Bergen is
considered “something special”.
Bergen of today, as for most Western societies, has
less industry, but it is still a centre for oil
exploration, shipping and fishing as well as
banking, insurance and other tertiary business. It
has grown as a centre for environmental and
oceanographic research in Norway. The future is
looking good for “The Gateway to the Fjords”.
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