Bergen – the capital of the fjords. Bergen is located by the sea, at the west end of Norway, and is surrounded by seven high mountains. This city is a charming mix of characteristic wooden houses, going back to the Hanseatic times, a bustling and busy port and enterprising trade with shops and stalls, as well as an inviting fish market. Get high with the Floibanen, and you will see a fantastic view of the city, lying at your feet.
Bergen, inhabited by over 260 000 people, It is often called the capital of the Vestlandet region and is the second largest city in Norway. The city is a popular tourist destination and a natural starting point for trips to Norway's famous fjords.
Therefore, Bergen is one of the most attractive European ports for cruise lines.
The city was founded in 1070 year by Olaf the Peaceful and named Bjorgyin, which means "green meadow between the mountains".
In the Middle Ages, Bergen was for a time the largest city in Scandinavia, as well as a trading and port city of European importance.
For several hundred years, the city had a monopoly on the export of any fish caught in the area from Vestlandet to Finnmark.
German Hanseatic League, in XIII and XIV weeks, owned one of its four most important foreign chambers of commerce in Bergen and controlled most of the trade on Bryggen. Today, these old, characteristic department stores from the Hanseatic period are the city's showpiece and are included in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List..
In its history, Bergen has been hit right up 36 extensive fires.
The greatest one, from 1702 year, changed 90 percent of the city and all Bryggen to ashes.
In the following years, Bryggen was rebuilt in accordance with the original building tradition.
Bergen is still an important trading and port city, having the second largest port in Norway. The location between the coast makes urban agoras, that Bergen "always" rains and rains about three times more than in Oslo.
Bergen is also the starting point for "The most beautiful cruise in the world", that is, a five and a half day journey on the Hurtigruten to Kirkenes in the very north of Norway. From 1893 year the ship carries passengers, goods and mail amidst the fabulous Norwegian nature – around spectacular fjords, towards the midnight sun or the northern lights and along the rugged coast of Northern Norway.
Walks between the old ones, wooden, Hanseatic houses on Bryggen. The houses come from the Middle Ages and are one of the greatest tourist attractions in Norway. The wooden building consists of 61 buildings protected and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
At the infamous fish market by Vagen, you can taste and buy almost anything, what floats in the sea.
Vagen w Bergen, training ship "Statsraad Lehmkuhl". The ship was built in Germany in 1914 year and purchased in 1921 of the year by former Prime Minister Kristoffer Lehmkuhl, director of the Bergesk Company of Steam Ships.
Ulriksbanen only needs three minutes to travel from the center to the Ulriken peak, which is lying 642 m a.s.l., you can go for a walk in the vast surroundings, or just enjoy the view.
From the Fleien you have a fantastic view over Bergen. The Fl0ibanen funicular will take you from the Fisketorget Fish Market to the Fleien terminus station, lying down 320 meters above the city.
The Bergen Aquarium is the oldest and largest aquarium in the country. There are seals there, penguins and fish species from near and far seas. The aquarium is visited annually by approx. 250 000 people, to watch the spectacular feeding of seals and penguins.
Troldhaugen is the home of composer Edward Grieg. The house was built in 1885 year, and today it functions as a museum. Inside the villa you can see, among other things, a Steinway piano with 1892 year belonging to Grieg, which is still used in concerts. Edward Grieg called the House of Troldhaugen "my best opus so far.", despite, that the house was designed by his cousin.