Bergen - culture and the outdoor life

Although Bergen is actually Norway's second largest city, its colourful wooden houses and picturesque harbour manage in many ways to convey the impression of a village. The fjords alone are sufficient reason to justify the trip to this extraordinary place. The city lies between the Sogne and Hardanger fjords. The former is the largest in the world, while the latter is reputedly the most beautiful.

From a trading point for dried cod to a cultural city 
The roots of Bergen go back a thousand years. This was the most important town in Norway in the Middle Ages, and was also the seat of the royal court. The buildings of the city's Bryggen harbour area also date from mediaeval times, when powerful Hanseatic merchants set up a bureau in the town. They were seeking to control the trade in dried fish, which was dominated by Bergen in those days. Bryggen is such a well preserved mediaeval complex that it has now been included in the UNESCO world heritage list.

Bergen has historically been a wealthy city, meaning that culture was also able to flourish there. The region has been blessed in the fields of visual art, literature and music. For example, Bergen was the hometown of the composer Edvard Grieg. His summer home at Troldhaugen is now a museum, and is well worth a visit.

For the outdoor life
Bergen is a paradise for lovers of the great outdoors. Skiing is an all-year pastime and the rugged fjord landscapes attract hikers, climbers and trail bikers. Recreational fishing is also very popular.