Kong Oscars Gate (King Oscars Street), Bergen

King Oscar Street was given its present name in 1857 in honor of Oscar I, King of Sweden and Norway. Before then, different sections of this old route had carried a remarkable collection of names. Among them were Shoemaker Street, Tailor Street, Hospital Street, Saint Jacob's Street, Port Street, and Cathedral Street. The northwestern section is one of the oldest street routes in Bergen.

Parts of the street are noticeably narrower than Bergen's later avenues, giving it a more intimate, old-city character. At its southeastern end stands Stadsporten, Bergen's historic city gate. Walking northwest from here, you pass a succession of buildings that tell the story of the city's religious, educational, and charitable institutions.

At No. 67 stands Zander Kaae's Foundation, built in 1769–1770 to provide a home for elderly people in need. Designed by city architect Johann Joachim Reichborn, the handsome wooden building remained a charitable residence for more than two centuries. Nearby, at No. 59, is Saint Jørgen's Hospital. The institution existed from the early 15th century until 1946 and cared particularly for people affected by leprosy. Today it houses the Leprosy Museum. Close by stands Danckert Krohn's Foundation at No. 54, completed in 1789 as a residence for elderly people of limited means. Since 2018, it has served as a cultural center.

Education has also played an important role on King Oscar Street. Bergen Cathedral School, at No. 36, traces its history back to around 1153 and remains an upper secondary school today. The former Tanks Upper Secondary School, at No. 21, was founded in 1850, but the school has since closed.

The street also passes two of Bergen's medieval churches. Bergen Cathedral, near Cathedral Square and Little Upper Street, developed from a church dedicated to Saint Olav that existed by the 12th century. Farther northwest, near the harbor end of the street, stands Holy Cross Church, whose oldest parts also date from the 12th century.