With 284000 inhabitants Bergen is the second largest city in Norway. It is located along the coast of southwestern Norway, 300 km west of Oslo (463km by road, a seven hours drive across the Norwegian mountains). With 195 days with rain per year Bergen is one of the rainiest cities in Europe.
Bergen was originally founded in the 11th century and became the capital of Norway in the 13th century. In the 14th century Bergen became part of the Hanseatic league and many German merchants settled in the city. The main export was dried cod (stockfish) from northern Norway, for which Bergen had a trade monopoly. Over the centuries Bergen was destroyed and rebuilt a number of times, but remained the largest city in Norway until the 1830s.
The main touristic highlight of Bergen is the Bryggen (or Tyskebryggen) area around the harbour in the old town. Here there are a number of Hanseatic heritage wooden commercial buildings. A number of these have been destroyed by fire over the centuries and rebuilt/restored after that. Bryggen in the past was the trading centre of the Hanseatic league in Bergen. It has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1979.
A short walk along a trail leads up to the Fløyen mountain. There at an altitude of 320m there is a panoramic viewing platform with shops, cafes and restaurants and a nice view over Bergen. The Fløibanen, an electric cable funicular, connects this place with the harbour area in Bergen.
How to get to Bergen
Bergen has an international airport with flights to several European cities and a train station. It can also be reached by car and ferry.
Accommodation
There are hotels and pensions, all bookable via the international booking portals.
Bryggen photo gallery  - 26 pictures of Bryggen
City centre photo gallery  - 32 pictures of City centre
26 photos of Bryggen, the historic area with Hanseatic heritage wooden commercial buildings around the harbour
32 photos of the centre of Bergen
Fløien photo gallery  - 19 pictures of Fløien
19 photos of the Fløien hill above Bergen, from which there is a nice view of the city
Gallery with all images
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©Copyright Alfred Molon