Haakon's Hall, located within the Bergenhus Fortress in Bergen, is a medieval stone hall built in the mid-13th century during the reign of King Håkon Håkonsson (1217-1263). As the largest secular medieval building in Norway, it stands as a significant monument of Gothic architecture. Constructed to replace earlier wooden structures, the hall showcases the influence of English design, likely due to the friendly relations between King Håkon and King Henry III of England, and possibly designed by English architects.

The hall, built between 1247 and 1261, served as a royal residence and feasting hall. It played a central role in major national events, such as the marriage of King Håkon's son, Magnus Håkonsson Lagabøte, to the Danish princess Ingeborg in 1261, an event which hosted 2000 guests across three buildings. During medieval times, Bergen was the largest and most important city in Norway, and Haakon's Hall was the venue for significant state affairs, including the proclamation of Norway's first complete set of laws.

Haakon's Hall comprises three floors: a large festive room on the top floor, a middle floor originally used for administration and the King's council, and a cellar likely used for storage. Despite its initial prominence, the hall's role diminished after the royal family left Norway in the late Middle Ages. It then served various utilitarian purposes, including as a storeroom and an ammunition depot, and even lost its roof at one point.

In 1916, Haakon's Hall underwent its first restoration and interior decoration. However, in 1944, it was heavily damaged by an explosion from the Dutch ammunition ship Voorbode in Bergen harbor. The hall was left with only its walls standing and underwent significant restoration in the 1950s to achieve its current form.

Today, Haakon's Hall is a cultural heritage site and museum. It continues to be used for royal dinners, official occasions, and concerts, preserving its historical significance and continuing its legacy as a centerpiece of Norwegian medieval architecture and history.

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.

Saint Mary's church is a "long" style church of grey stone built around 1135. The architect is unknown but he would have been pleased to know his structure has withstood time and fortune so well. The church is used today and it seats about 240 people. It is definitely the oldest building in the City of Bergen.

Saint Mary's is only survivor of the 12 churches and three monasteries that were built during the ring of Olav Kyrre (1066-1093). The church was probably built by craftsmen from Scania, in Denmark. The sryle of the church resembles that of Lund Cathedral in Scania.

The church was intended for the Norwegian people of Bergen, but it was taken over by the German population the town in 1408. It was locally named the "German" church and it served mainly the rich Hanseatic merchants. While it belonged to the Germans, Saint Mary's prospered and did not fall into ruin like several other churches of Bergen.

In January 2010 major restoration work was undertaken. When finished the Church became associated with the Bergen Anglican denomination and began offering services in English.

The church has two towers and three naves and is mostly Romanesque in style. The choir is a bit Gothic like Haakon's Hall. The main building material is three grades of soapstone and some shale. The soapstone was likely quarried locally.

Bryggens Museum, situated in the historic heart of Bergen, serves as a cultural and historical repository dedicated to medieval Bergen and Western Norway. The museum was established in 1976 in response to a significant archaeological discovery following a devastating fire in 1955 that destroyed parts of Bryggen, the city's historic district. This event sparked extensive archaeological excavations that lasted for 13 years, unearthing hundreds of thousands of artifacts that provided unprecedented insights into medieval commerce, shipping, handicrafts, and daily life.

The museum is designed by architect Øivind Maurseth, who is also known for his work on the nearby Radisson SAS Hotel. Asbjørn Herteig, a notable archaeologist, was the museum's first curator and a key figure in its establishment. Since 2005, Bryggens Museum has been a part of the Bergen City Museum network.

Bryggens Museum's main exhibit, "Under Ground," showcases thousands of artifacts from Bryggen excavations, coupled with modern research. It provides insight into medieval life with runic inscriptions sharing personal stories and social dynamics. The exhibit also features ceramics from Europe and the Middle East, showcasing Bergen's global trade connections. Highlighting the collection is the Guddal garment, a rare intact piece of Norwegian medieval clothing dating back nearly a thousand years.

Moreover, the museum is built over the foundations of Bergen's oldest buildings from the first half of the 1100s, making these architectural remains a vital part of the permanent exhibition. This setup provides visitors with a tangible connection to life in medieval Bergen.

Bryggens Museum not only chronicles the history but also plays a crucial role in the preservation of Bryggen. After the 1955 fire, there was considerable debate over the future of the remaining wooden buildings with many locals initially favoring demolition. However, the revelations from the excavations shifted public opinion, leading to the preservation of Bryggen, which is now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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.

In the 14th century the Hanseatic League reached Norway, They sailed to Bergen to open up a trade in grain for stockfish. Bergen soon became one of Northern Europe's trading centers. The Hanseatic Museum today belongs on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

The museum gives us a picture of how the Hanseatic merchant lived and influenced life in the Wharf. Walk through Bryggen today in the narrow alleyways and travel through time. See the men speaking Plattdeutsch and pushing barrels of stockfish to the quay. A group of 62 buildings from the Hanseatic era has been preserved.

The Hanseatic Assembly Rooms were originally single houses behind each Building on the wharf. The houses have names. Jakobsfjorden and Bellgaarden cover the period before 1702. Svensgaarden is from 1708. A third room, Bredsgaarden is from 1709 but it was rebuilt in 1761.

Hanseatic Assembly Rooms were part of the tenements. They were assembly rooms for company personnel in the winter. Only the assembly rooms were heated. Fire was forbidden in all other houses. Bergen was Fires-R-Us for centuries. An assembly room was a classroom for apprentices, church services, and funerals. Even punishments were meted out here.

The Hanseatic Assembly Rooms are next to the Hanseatic merchants' church, Saint Mary's Church.

The Meat Bazaar (Kjottbasaren), Bergen's historic meat market, is an architectural and cultural gem founded in 1872. Located on Vetrlidsallmenningen, this ornate gabled brick building with a crenelated roof stands as a testament to the city's rich history and vibrant market culture. Originally designed by architect Conrad Fredrik von der Lippe in a neo-Romanesque style, the market has served as a hub for local food trade for over a century.

The Meat Bazaar in Bergen originated in the late 18th century when butchers in Skuteviken set up "meat huts" on Kjødtorvet to keep the city center clean. These simple stalls were established around 1776, offering a designated space for meat trade away from homes. Eventually, in 1877, the Meat Bazaar was constructed, featuring 44 sales stalls and 27 cellar stalls, becoming a unique establishment in Norway.

Today, the Meat Bazaar is a bustling food emporium offering a diverse array of products. Shoppers can find chocolates, cheeses, meats, cakes, breads, and souvenirs amidst the charming stalls. The market, restored in 1990, retains its historical ambiance while accommodating contemporary needs. Visitors can shop and dine, with several restaurants on the first floor and additional stalls and shops above. Weather permitting, tables and chairs are set up outside the café/restaurant, providing a pleasant dining experience-though diners should be mindful of the wind direction to avoid the fishy smells wafting from the nearby Fish Market.

The Meat Bazaar not only serves as a marketplace but also as a cultural landmark that encapsulates Bergen's historical progression and architectural heritage. Its establishment marked a significant improvement in market regulation, hygiene, and trade practices, influencing the urban development of the city. The building's architectural style and subsequent renovations highlight the evolving needs and tastes of Bergen's populace over the years.

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!"

The old days are not missed so much in Bergen, Norway. The city had a lot of wooden buildings, close together and narrow streets. Fires would break out with alarming regularity. Flames easily roared from one house to another, leaping across streets and engaging whole neighborhoods.

Something had to be done. The answer was "allmenninger", or rebuild vulnerable districts. Widen the streets and create squares between districts to stop the spread of fires. Torgallmenningen is Norway's "best designed town square."

It is near impossible to move around Bergen and not cross Torgallmenningen once or twice. Shops and malls line the square. Roofs of glass before the store facades protect shoppers from the all too frequent rains.

The Maritime Monument, with statues of Norwegian sea rovers, is at one end of the Square. These hardy sailors get no protection from the rain, but they don't mind. After all, it's only water.

"We'll meet at the blue Stone" is an expression often heard in Bergen, The Blue Stone is just that; a large blue stone that casts a spell. It is located at the intersection Of Torgallmenningen and Ole Busll Plass. It's a great place to meet.

The Sailor's Monument in Bergen stands as a tribute to the country's maritime heritage, honoring the contributions of Norwegian sailors throughout the ages. Located at the northern end of Torgallmenningen, the city's main square, the monument reaches a height of 7 meters and presents a distinct cuboid shape. Designed by sculptor Dyre Vaa and unveiled on June 7, 1950, it serves as both an artistic and historical reflection on Norway’s long-standing relationship with the sea.

The monument features 12 bronze statues and four relief panels, with the statues grouped into four triads that face the cardinal directions-each direction representing a different era of Norwegian maritime history. The west-facing side depicts Viking Age adventurers, notable for their armed portrayal with swords and a conspicuously large spear. The north side celebrates early modern era (17th and 18th centuries) seafarers, the east side features 19th-century seamen, and the south side represents 20th-century sailors. Each group is symbolically divided into societal classes: the poor and servile, the middle classes, and the elite.

The relief panels add a layer of narrative depth, intertwining real maritime dangers with mythical and spiritual elements. They depict various historical and allegorical scenes, including Viking longships, encounters with native Americans symbolizing distant voyages, and more modern imagery such as whaling scenes and representations of sailors lost at sea.

The monument, while impressive, only depicts male figures and overlooks the later Middle Ages, a key era in Bergen's history. This biased portrayal reflects Norway's cultural focus on the Viking era as a masculine symbol of national identity, shaping public memory and monuments.

The Blue Stone Monument in Bergen is a notable city landmark, celebrated both for its artistic value and its role as a communal gathering point. Created by Asbjørn Andersen and unveiled on March 27, 1993, this striking monument was a gift from the Kavli Trust in honor of its 100th anniversary.

Constructed from Brazilian sodalite, the monument features a nine-meter-long (approximately 30 feet) stone that lies atop a stone block. This arrangement gives the stone a distinctive tilt toward the northeast. The setup includes a larger foundation that integrates a smaller gray square stone sculpture, resembling a cover over an opening at the foundation's end.

The Blue Stone is more than just a piece of public art; it has become a vital part of Bergen's social fabric, serving as a common meeting spot for residents. Its significance was highlighted in 2007 when the stone was enveloped in pink plastic for a marketing campaign, attracting both curiosity and attention. Moreover, following the tragic 2011 Norway attacks, the monument transformed into a poignant memorial site, where people gathered to lay flowers and pay their respects, underscoring its role as a symbolic and physical anchor in the community.

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.

Lake Lungegard (Lille Lungegårdsvannet) is a small yet prominent lake situated in the heart of Bergen. Spanning an area of just 5 acres, this octagonal lake is enveloped by the urban landscape of the city and is a natural water body, historically linked to the larger Store Lungegårdsvannet Bay. The lake's connection to the bay was physically cut off in 1926 when the strait that linked them was filled in and replaced by an underground culvert system. This modification allows tidal fluctuations to influence the lake's water level, maintaining a subtle dynamic connection to its maritime origins.

The lake today is central to a city park and features a prominent decorative fountain, adding aesthetic value and serving as a focal point for visitors and locals alike. Over the years, the lake underwent significant transformations primarily due to urban expansion. Originally much larger, Lake Lungegard was systematically reduced in size through land reclamation efforts, where fill material was added around its edges. These modifications not only shrank the lake but also reshaped it into its current octagonal form, which was finalized by the mid-20th century.

The lake's historical and contemporary significance, coupled with its picturesque setting in a bustling city environment, makes it a cherished landmark in Bergen, reflecting both the city’s natural beauty and its urban development trajectory.