Norway is a beautiful and hospitable country. Its inhabitants are always glad to see guests from all over the world. And tourists do not keep themselves waiting long. They visit this fabulous country with pleasure, acquaintance with which usually opens the city of Bergen. Almost all tourist routes begin with it.
Norway on the map
This is the northernmost country in Europe. Its shores are washed by the Arctic Ocean, the North and Norwegian Seas. In addition, the Skagerrak Strait opens the way to the B altic Sea. Another part of the country is located beyond the Arctic Circle. Most of its territory is mountains and rocks, many of which are covered with eternal ice.
Cattle breeding is developed in the country - three hundred thousand heads of cattle and flocks of sheep, numbering more than two million heads, graze on the mountain slopes and remote valleys.
Norway, due to its geographical location, is rich in fish stocks. In addition, it confidently occupies a place in the top ten countries in terms of oil production. It is one of the largest maritime powers.
Bergen location
The second largest city in this state is Bergen. A map of Norway will show you that it is located on the North Sea, in the west of the country. By road, the distance from the capital Oslo is 478 km. Distance to Moscow - 1952 km. Bergen area - 465 sq. km.
From the history of the city
Bergen is the second most populated and largest city in Norway. Its foundation is attributed to the period between 1066 and 1093. A more precise date has not been set. King Olav Kire of Norway visited this famous Viking harbor and proclaimed it a city. In the thirteenth century, this settlement became the capital. Until the beginning of the twentieth century, it was considered the largest city in the country. In the fourteenth century, Bergen (Norway) became one of the members of the Hanseatic League, concluded by merchants from the B altic and European countries.
From that moment, the economy of this settlement began to flourish. There was a need to serve navigation and trade, the possibility of selling handicraft products. In the twentieth century, the architecture of Bergen was badly damaged, many ancient monuments were destroyed during a fire in 1916, and in 1944 a Nazi ship exploded in the harbor, as a result several buildings were destroyed.
Bergen: what to see
When going to Norway, you should think over the route in advance and decide what you want to see when visiting Bergen. The sights of this city are unique. We are talking about nature reserves and cultural and historical monuments.
Bruggen Embankment
All tourists are brought here first of all. The embankment has been used by merchants for international trade since the fourteenth century. Today, this ancient quarter is a world-class monument, which is protected by UNESCO.
Throughout the history of the embankment, fires have repeatedly raged on it, ruthlessly destroying unique monuments of history and architecture. Today it is one of the most popular quarters of the city. More than a million tourists visit it during the year. Galleries and museums, shops and cafes are concentrated here. On the territory of the Bergenhus fortress, built in the Middle Ages, there are two more historical monuments that glorified Bergen. Norway is proud of the medieval residence of the rulers of the country, the ancient castle of King Haakon Haakonson (it was built in the thirteenth century) and the Rosenkrantz Tower (its construction dates back to the sixteenth century).
The palace is the largest secular building in the city. At first it had three floors. Provisions were stored on the first, the second was used for living, on the third solemn ceremonies were held. After 1299, Oslo became the capital of Norway, and the castle was no longer used for its intended purpose. At first it was a barn, and during the war with the Nazis - a protective structure. Today it houses a museum.
Church of Saint Mary
The oldest building in the city. Scientists claim that the church was built in 1140-1180. The building is made in the Romanesque style. At first it was Catholic, but now it is Protestant. In 2014 the church meets its parishioners andtourists, reopening after restoration.
Museums
The Hanseatic Museum is located in the oldest wooden house in Bergen. Its interior is made in the style of the eighteenth century and presents a picture of the life of a typical Hanseatic merchant. A fifteen-minute drive from the city center is Grieg's house-museum. Here you will see an exhibition dedicated to the life of Nina and Edvard Grieg.
The Fisheries Museum will tell you about the development of fisheries in Norway, about its marine resources. You will be told about the peculiarities of hunting for whales, seals, you will learn what equipment and machinery is used.
At the Art Museum you can see an exhibition of world and Norwegian art from the fifteenth century to the present day.
The Museum of Applied Arts will show you a stunning collection of silver, jewelry, marble, porcelain.
In St. George's Hospital you can visit the Leprosy Museum. Here, for more than five hundred years, the unfortunate people who fell ill with this terrible disease were treated. Doctors from Norway have made a huge contribution to the study of this disease.
Old Bergen Museum
This is a unique outdoor display that Bergen is proud of. Norway of the 18th and 19th centuries is represented by forty wooden houses. Their interiors are made in strict accordance with the traditions of that time. On the territory of the museum you can see a pharmacy, a bakery, a bakery, a grocery store, etc.
Unique lake
In the center of Bergen, not far from the Art Museum, there iswonderfully beautiful lake. It is called Lille-Lungordsvann. The reservoir has the shape of an octagon. This is a natural lake, which is very fond of the townspeople. Guests come here with pleasure. Families with children love to walk on its banks, picnics are arranged.
In the sixteenth century a palace was built here, and the lake has since become known as Lungårdsvann, and it has become the castle's inner harbor. Initially, the reservoir was large - the lake flowed into the bay of the same name. In 1926 it was covered up. Only the underground communication between the bay and the lake has survived.
Fish Market
This is undoubtedly the oldest market in the country. He is over seven hundred years old. It is located near the Bryggen quarter in the Vogen harbor. Here you will be offered freshly caught fish and seafood. Those who wish can buy and take with them cooked salmon and boiled shrimp or taste these delicacies right on the market, in small cozy cafes. Prices here are much cheaper than in restaurants, which does not affect the quality.
Here you can also visit numerous souvenir shops selling handicrafts of Norwegian artisans.
Floyen Funicular
Every year, Norway becomes more and more attractive for tourists. Bergen, the photo of which you see in this article, is visited annually by thousands of guests from all over the world. One of the main attractions of this beautiful city is the funicular. Everyone can make an interesting trip to the top of Mount Floyen, at a height of 320 meters, and admire the magnificent view of the fjords surrounding Bergen and the citybay. Here, souvenir shops, restaurants, playgrounds for children will open their doors to tourists.
Cable car
If you want to climb the highest mountain in the suburbs of Bergen - Upriken (642 meters) - you will need to use the cable car, which was built in 1959. It is used not only by tourists, but also by locals.
Aquarium
On the edge of the Nordes Peninsula is the famous Bergen Aquarium. City residents with children and guests of the city love to spend time here. The Aquarium contains dozens of species of fish, sea seals and lions, penguins. You can attend special shows and watch the feeding and training of marine life at certain times.
What are fjords
This is the name of a winding and narrow sea bay that penetrates deep into the land. Its length is usually ten times greater than its width. The shores of the fjord are rocks up to 1000 meters high. They owe their formation to the movement of tectonic plates, resulting in huge cracks and faults.
Bergen Fjords
Historical and architectural monuments around the world glorified Bergen. Norway is rightly proud of them and cherishes them. Along with them, the famous fjords brought world fame to Norway and the city itself. Two of the three largest educational institutions in the world are located here. The current of the Gulf Stream favorably influences the climate of the fjords in Norway. It is soft, the water practically does not freeze. Hundred Fjord - the mostdeep. Its depth reaches 1308 meters. Nærey Fjord and Geranger Fjord are protected by UNESCO.
