911±¬ÁÏÍø

Custom Walk in Bergen, Norway by pzsls_6f245 created on 2025-07-07

Guide Location: Norway » Bergen
Guide Type: Custom Walk
# of Sights: 7
Tour Duration: 6 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 17.4 Km or 10.8 Miles
Share Key: BUXZY

How It Works


Please retrieve this walk in the 911±¬ÁÏÍø app. Once done, the app will guide you from one tour stop to the next as if you had a personal tour guide. If you created the walk on this website or come to the page via a link, please follow the instructions below to retrieve the walk in the app.

Retrieve This Walk in App


Step 1. Download the app "911±¬ÁÏÍø: Walks in 1K+ Cities" on Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Step 2. In the 911±¬ÁÏÍø app, download(or launch) the guide "Bergen Map and Walking Tours".

Step 3. Tap the menu button located at upper right corner of the "Walks" screen and select "Retrieve custom walk". Enter the share key: BUXZY

1
Bryggen (The Wharf)

1) Bryggen (The Wharf) (must see)

The Bryggen area originally covered all buildings between the sea and the Ovregaten road. The earliest pier is dated to about 1100 AD. The city of Bergen itself dates from before 1070. The existing buildings of Bryggen date no earlier than 1702. This is not surprising in a city so well acquainted with disastrous fires.

The Hanseatic League established itself in Bergen in 1350. They traded mostly cereal grains for stockfish. The town grew into an important center for international trade, and the buildings of Bryggen near the waterfront were, piece by piece, brought under the control of the Hanseatic merchants. The stockfish and the grains had found a home.

From 1702 until 1754 the Hanseatic league buildings were on fire, rebuilt, on fire, demolished, and on fire again. Finally the Hanseatic businesses in Bergen ended and the property at Bryggen was transferred to Norwegian citizens.

Bryggen suffered a fire again in 1955. In an archeological dig that followed, 670 ancient runic inscriptions were discovered carved mostly on pine chips or sticks. For a long time runes were thought to be used only for grave pronouncements or prayers.

These runes however, were concerned with more mundane day-to-day business. Such as: "Ast min, kyss mik." "My darling, kiss me." It is not known if the wish was granted. The inscriptions are at present held in Bryggens Museum in Bergen.

Hiding behind the classic Bryggen facades is a little world of alleyways, shops, galleries and studios. Local artists and designers have taken over the storage spaces for stockfish and grain. The rooms hold art, designs, jewelry, books and, wait for it, a cafe. Artists and designers are hiding in the narrow passeges among the houses.

The local artists want people to think of Bryggen not as some kind of museum where nothing happens, but a living thriving space for art.

Buildings at Bryggen that should be mentioned are Bellgarden (300 years old), Svensgarden, Ehnjorningsgarden, Bredsgarden, Bugarden, and Engelgarden. The tallest and oldest structure is Saint Mary's Church. Museums are Bryggen's Museum and Hanseatic Museum and Hanseatic Assembly Rooms.

Why You Should Visit:
To get a feeling of the Hanseatic influence on the city.
2
Bergenhus Fortress and Rosenkrantz Tower

2) Bergenhus Fortress and Rosenkrantz Tower (must see)

The tower and the Fortress must be thought of as one establishment. The Fortress has been a royal seat and residence, episcopal see and a military power base. The grounds within the walls of the island fortress are Holmen, Koengen and Sverresborg. The Fortress was built in the early 1500s. It was considered complete in 1700.

The Fortress was under siege only once during the second Dutch-English War. In August, 1665, a squadron of Dutch vessels took shelter in neutral Bergen Harbor. The neutrality was not respected. The English warships fired on the Dutch ships and the Fortress. Fire was returned. The battle was a short one. It came to be known as The Battle of Vagen.

The English were attacking vessels of the Dutch East India Company. The attack failed. No ships were sunk. In the Second World War Bergenhus was once again in service. This time however it was a German occupying force that used the fort as their western headquarters.

Begenhus has been a military facility without interruption since 1628. Presently 220 military and civilian personnel are stationed at the fort.

The Rosenkrantz Tower is the dominant building of the fort complex. It was named for governor Erik Rosenkrantz. The tower got its present form during Rosenkrantz's reign, 1559-1568. There is a yet older part of the tower. It is a medieval tower called the "keep by the Sea." It was built by King Magnus the Lawmaker in 1270.

Rosenkrantz's building held dungeons on the first floor and cannons on the roof. With residential rooms in between it must have been insufferably loud in a battle. Not a good place for meditation.

The other medieval structure to remain is Haakon's Hall, built about 1270. It was incorporated in Rosenkrantz's Tower. Several Churches, including Bergen's Christ Church were included in the premises. The churches were demolished by 1531 and the isle of Holmen became strictly military.
3
Fish Market

3) Fish Market (must see)

Nestling between the fjords and the seven mountains of Bergen, is the city's Fish Market. Besides fish and seafood, the market offers local farm products and fruit and vegetables. The restaurants, no surprise, sell a plentiful amount of seafood. The indoor market is open all year. The outdoor market opens in May for the summer.

The Fish Market has been in operation since 1200. It has always been a vital meeting place for fishermen, farmers, merchants and citizens. Fish are sold not only from shops in the Market, but also directly from boats at the quay.

The Fish Market was not always at the same location. The original market was next to Bryggen in the Nikolaikirkeallmanning. With the arrival of the Hanseatic League in the 14th century, the city became distinctly Germanic. In 1541 it was proposed strongly to move the market to keep the market free of Hanseatic influence.

Finally, in 1556 the Market was successfully moved to Vagen. The Market was then the central trading area of Bergen. In 2012 the indoor Fish Market was opened. The shops inside became permanent and business proceeded all year. The Market is now located at the inner harbor of Bergen, in the center of the city, easy to find.

Norway has a long convoluted coastline, stretching all the way to the Arctic. The fishing industry is extremely important to the local economy. Bergen is the the most active harbor in Norway with a busy and colorful fish market. It should not be missed.

Why You Should Visit:
"Why the fish alone are with the trip!"
4
Byparken (City Park)

4) Byparken (City Park) (must see)

Byparken ("The City Park"), located in the very center of Bergen, is the city's first park. New municipal anti-fire regulations were put into effect in 1855. Following one more devastating fire, the city could not simply rebuild. A wide open space was needed to be a vast "fire break" in the middle of the city. Byparken was the answer.

The park is split in two. One side of the park has a light rail stop and the Music Pavilion, donated to the city. On the other side is the ever popular Festplassen ("party place"), an open-air venue for celebrations and events. Norwegian Constitution Day, on May 17, is observed here and The Festival of Light at Christmas.

Two large ponds are maintained in the park. They were once one pond but the middle part was filled in. The ponds remain connected however by an underground tunnel. Lungegardsvannet "Large lung" is the name for the larger pond. The smaller pond is Smalungeren "Small Lung." No surprise there.
5
Fantoft Stavkirke (Fantoft Stave Church)

5) Fantoft Stavkirke (Fantoft Stave Church) (must see)

Fantoft Stave Church, located in the Fana borough of Bergen, stands as a reconstructed monument of Norway's medieval architectural heritage. Originally erected around 1150 in Fortun, a village near the eastern end of Sognefjord, the church was an emblematic stave church of the era. In 1879, it was replaced by the new Fortun Church, leading to its potential demolition along with many other stave churches across Norway during that period.

The church's salvation came from Consul Fredrik Georg Gade, who purchased and relocated it to Fana near Bergen in 1883, thereby preserving this significant piece of Norwegian cultural history. A notable feature on the church grounds is a stone cross from Tjora in Sola, further accentuating its historical and cultural importance.

However, the church's history took a dark turn on June 6, 1992, when it was destroyed by arson. This act of vandalism marked the beginning of a series of church burnings attributed to the early Norwegian black metal scene. Initially, it was speculated that the fire could have been due to lightning or electrical failure. However, by 1994, Varg Vikernes, a prominent figure in the black metal community, was found guilty of several other church burnings, though he was not convicted for the Fantoft Stave Church fire due to a controversial jury decision.

Promptly after the arson, efforts were made to reconstruct the church, culminating in a painstaking six-year restoration process. Since its reopening in 1997, the church has been encircled by a security fence to protect this historical site from further harm. Today, Fantoft Stave Church not only serves as a place of cultural and historical significance but also as a symbol of resilience in the face of cultural vandalism.
6
Ulriken Mountain Cable Car

6) Ulriken Mountain Cable Car (must see)

The Ulriken Mountain Cable Car, known locally as Ulriksbanen, is an iconic attraction in Bergen. Since its inauguration in 1961, the cable car has provided a convenient means for residents and visitors to travel from the city up to the scenic heights of Mount Ulriken, the tallest among Bergen's famed seven mountains, which rises to 643 meters above sea level.

Visitors to Ulriken can enjoy a swift and picturesque ascent to the mountain's summit via the modern cable cars, which have been recently updated to enhance the visitor experience. The journey offers stunning panoramic views of Bergen city, the surrounding mountains, and the Byfjorden fjord. Upon reaching the summit, guests can indulge in various activities, dine at the newly expanded Skyskraperen Restaurant, or relax at the Ulriken café, which serves traditional mountain fare along with refreshments.

Mount Ulriken itself is a popular starting point for a range of hiking trails suitable for all levels, from leisurely walks ideal for families to challenging multi-day treks for more experienced hikers. For those looking to experience the mountain's natural beauty without the strenuous climb, the Ulriken Cable Car provides a quick, 5-minute ride to the top, making it accessible to all visitors.

Whether you're a hiker looking to explore the trails, a tourist seeking stunning views, or a diner desiring a meal with a view, Mount Ulriken and its cable car service offer a memorable and diverse mountain experience right on Bergen's doorstep.
7
Kong Oscars Gate (King Oscars Street)

7) Kong Oscars Gate (King Oscars Street)

Named in honor of Oscar I, King of Norway and Sweden, in 1857. Prior to that date this street had a host of other names. It has been "shoemaker street", "tailor street", "hospital street", "Saint Jacobs street", "Potrgaden", and "Domkirkegaden."

The street is narrower than most others in Bergen. At the south-eastern end is the old city gate of Bergen. A number of significant buildings line the street. At No. 67 King Oscars Street is Zander Kaae's Foundation, built in the 18th century for a charity and now it rents rooms to students.

Saint Jorgen's Hospital was an 18th century leprosy hospital and now it is a leprosy museum. This is a sign that leprosy is down, an improvement, count your blessings. Next to the museum is Danekert Krohn's Foundation, another 18th century charity, this one for the elderly.

The street has its share of schools. There is Bergen katedralskole (cathedral school), one of three secondary schools on King Oscar Street. There are also Danielsen videregaende skole, and Tanks videregaende skole.

At the intersection of Lille Ovregate and Domkirkeplassen is Bergen Cathedral, a medieval church. Not far away is Holy Cross Church, also a medieval church.

A visit to King Oscars Street reveals a side of Bergen, hidden from ordinary sight. It is like a secret place, away from the chain shops and popular hang-outs. There are plenty shops and restaurants but they all have a personal style and charm that comes with the street.
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