Bergen, Norway

Bergen is the second largest city in Norway in the county of Hordaland, Norway.The population of Bergen proper (municipality) is 242,854 as of April 1st, 2006 according to Statistics Norway. [1]The city is divided into 8 boroughs, Arna, Bergenhus, Fana, Fyllingsdalen, Laksevåg, Ytrebygda, Årstad and Åsane. The metropolitan area of Bergen has a population of 369,099 inhabitants as of January 1st 2006 according to Statistics Norway [2]

The city is located on the south-western coast of Norway, in the county of Hordaland, with its center situated between a group of mountains known collectively as de syv fjell ("the seven mountains"). Bergen is recognized as the unofficial capital of the region known as West Norway, and also recognized and marketed as the gateway city to the world famous fjords of Norway and for that reason it has become Norway's largest – and one of Europe's largest cruise ship ports of call. Furthermore Bergen's inter-municipal harbour is by far Norway's largest port and also one of Europe´s largest ports according to the inter-municipal company Port of Bergen, [3] handling more than 50% of all cargo handled in Norway in 2005.

Time magazine chose to name the city one of Europe´s 14 "secret capitals" (August 2004), where Bergen's capital reign is within maritime businesses and activities such as aquaculture and marine research, with the Institute of Marine Research (IMR)(second largest in Europe) as the leading institution. Bergen is also the main base for the Royal Norwegian Navy (at Haakonsvern) and its international airport Flesland is the main heliport for the huge Norwegian North Sea oil and gas industry, from where thousands of offshore workers commute to their work places onboard the many oil and gas rigs and platforms.

Bergen was one of nine European cities honoured with the title European city of culture in 2000.[4]

History

The city of Bergen was founded by king Olav Kyrre in the year 1070 AD. Bergen celebrated its 900th anniversary in 1970. It was considered to be Norway's capital in the 13th century until 1299. Towards the end of the thirteenth century, Bergen became one of the Hanseatic League's most important bureau cities.The main reason for Bergen´s importance was the trade with dried cod from the northern Norwegian coast, starting up around 1100. The German Hanseatic merchants lived in their own separate quarter of town, where Low German was spoken, enjoying exclusive rights to trade with the northern fishermen that each summer sailed to Bergen. Today, one still gets a feel of this at the quayside of Bergen called Bryggen, today on the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites.

In 1349, the Black Death was introduced to Norway by the crew of an English ship arriving in Bergen. In the 15th century the city was several times attacked by the Victual Brothers, and in 1429 they succeeded in burning the royal castle and much of the city. In 1536, the king was able to force the German merchants to become Norwegian citizens or return home, heralding a decline in the German influence. In 1665, the city's harbour was the site of the bloody Battle of VÃ¥gen, between English ships on the one side and Dutch ships supported by the city's garrison on the other. Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, Bergen remained the biggest city in the Nordic countries, and it remained Norway's biggest city until 1850, when overtaken by Oslo. Bergen retained its monopoly of trade of Northern Norway until 1789.

In 1916 parts of the city centre were destroyed by a devastating fire, the last of many such fires throughout the city's history. During World War II, the city was occupied on the first day of the German invasion on 9 April 1940, after a brief fight between German ships and Norwegian coastal artillery. On 20 April 1944, during the German occupation, a Dutch cargoship anchored off the Bergenhus fortress, loaded with over 120 tons of explosives, blew up, killing at least 150 people and damaging historic buildings. The city was also subject to some allied bombing raids, aiming at German naval installations in the harbour. Some of these led to civilian casualties numbering over 100.

In 1972, Bergen was unified with neighbouring municipalities (Arna, Fana, Laksevåg and Åsane), abolishing its county status and getting its present boundaries.

Cityscape

Lille Lungegårdsvannet in downtown Bergen. The city hall is visible on the right hand side

The oldest part of the city is on the north side of the bay of VÃ¥gen. Here you find Bryggen, a number of old, wooden houses from the early 18th century, the product of rebuilding after a fire in 1702, done in the style of the medieval buildings that stood on the site before the fire. Six houses (to the left, see picture) were rebuilt after a fire in 1955. The Saint Mary Church is the oldest building in Bergen, parts of it dating from around 1130. Two other churches, the Cathedral and the Korskirken church are also medieval, although modified later. The fortress of Bergenhus has a number of interesting buildings, notably the Haakon's Hall royal hall from the 1260s, and the Rosenkrantz Tower, built around a medieval fortification in the 1560s.

A popular tourist attraction is the open air fishmarket on the harbour. Further down you find the main shopping area, rebuilt after a fire in 1916 in art nouveau and functionalism, around the main square Torgalmenningen. Several old quarters of white, wooden houses are patched in and around the centre, notably in Nordnes, Marken and Sandviken. Nygårdshøyden is a quaint area with a large number of buildings from about 1900, many with neoclassical facades. Some parts of Bergen have been rebuilt after WWII due to English bombing, an explosion accident and unthoughtful city planning. Whole blocks of ancient wooden houses are still regularly demolished in the city centre, most recently in Nøstet and Krinkelkroken. Strolling around in Bergen will generally reveal areas of very differing architecture.

Visitors should not miss the ride with the funicular up to Mount Fløyen, where one is rewarded with a splendid view over the city and the fabled seven mountains. From here, it's also possible to hike in a huge area of spectacular and largely untouched scenery. The aquarium with seals, penguins and fish from the area is also popular.

Panoramic view of Bryggen

Administration

View of Bergen from Fløyen

Brick houses built 1901 after a fire at Bryggen

The old stock exchange building in the city centre

The shopping street Strandgaten

A typical summer day in Bergen

White wooden houses in Bergen