Tourist information - Bergen
This 900-year-old Hanseatic city located between 7 mountains, grew up around the sea and has always been Norway's most prominent city for trade, shipping and industry. Ships originated 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 capital of Norway. For a period it was also the largest city in the Nordic countries. Bergen's trade and shipping also made it amongst the important cities of Europe. The citizens of Bergen have not 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 regained in the same likeness each time. That is why this old merchant quarter still looks much like it did when the city was young. The Hanse had its enormous offices on the Brygge for a few 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 worthwhile preservation and is as such a World Heritage City.
It is simple to get to the top of Bergen's highest mountain Ulriken by cable car. Or you can settle for taking the famous funicular railway to the top of Fløien from where you'll enjoy a spectacular view of the city. Edvard Grieg's wonderful home Troldhaugen is definitely worthy of a visit, and our first internationally famous violinist, Ole Bull, once constructed an odd and lovely home - Lysøen - that is now a museum. Go for a walk along Bryggen to the old fortress called Bergenshus, where Håkon Håkonsson made Bergen Norway's first capital. He had the beautiful Håkonshallen made in honour or his son Magnus Lagabøter's wedding and coronation.
Bergen is also the gateway to the fjords. These deep, sometimes narrow, sometimes wide fjords with snow-peaked mountains towering in the water's reflection and waterfalls flowing down their craggy sides, are sight-seeing opportunities for foreign tourists and Norwegians alike. Boats that are both rapid and comfortable are available for travels to Hardangerfjorden, Sognefjorden and Geirangerfjorden and one of many fascinating skerries over the coast.
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