Bergen

History

How the city came to be

Bergen's founding is usually dated to 1070, and its harbour facing the west coast gradually made it an important maritime trading city in Norway. The tourist office describes it as an early capital of Norway; by the 13th century the Fish Market had become a place where fishermen, farmers and townspeople exchanged goods. Around 1350 Hanseatic merchants established an overseas trading post at Bryggen, through which northern stockfish and other goods entered a wider European network. The timber trading post suffered fires many times, and today's Bryggen mainly follows the layout rebuilt after the great fire of 1702; protection was strengthened after a fire in 1955. In 1979 the historic wharf of Bryggen was inscribed as a World Heritage Site, but the protected area covers only a specific group of harbourside buildings, not the whole of Bergen. The Fløibanen funicular, opened in 1918, links the hillside with the old harbour, and the Fish Market's indoor hall came into use in 2012. Today the harbour is still the city's starting point for contact with the outside world, and on your visit you can understand the World Heritage site, the everyday Fish Market and the mountain transport together on one walking route.

1. c. 1070The traditional founding date of Bergen.
2. 13th centuryThe harbourside Fish Market became a local place of trade.
3. c. 1350Hanseatic merchants established an overseas trading post at Bryggen.
4. 1702After a great fire, Bryggen was rebuilt on its existing layout, shaping its main appearance today.
5. 1918The Fløibanen funicular began operating.
6. 1955Bryggen was again damaged by fire.
7. 1979Bryggen was inscribed as a World Heritage Site.
8. 2012The Fish Market's indoor hall came into use.