Bergen

Bergen is a city in Norway on the west coast. It is the second-largest city in the country after Oslo.

The city is surrounded by mountains, which gives it the nickname "city of seven mountains." It sits on a peninsula and has many neighborhoods on islands.

Trading in Bergen may have started as early as the 1020s. The city was founded in 1070 by King Olav Kyrre. It was once the capital of Norway and became an important trading center for the Hanseatic League.

Today, Bergen is a busy port and an international center for many industries, including fishing, shipping, and education.

Bergen has a mild winter climate but gets a lot of rain, with about 200 rainy days each year. The city is connected by large bridges, a light rail system, and an airport.

It is also famous for its traditional youth groups called buekorps and its unique local dialect, known as Bergensk.

History

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Bergen.

The city of Bergen is thought to have been founded by King Olav Kyrre, son of Harald Hardråde, in 1070 AD, after the Viking Age ended in England. However, modern research shows that a trading settlement already existed in the 1020s or 1030s.

Bergen became an important city in the early 13th century, serving as a center for government. The city’s cathedral hosted the first royal coronations in Norway in the 1150s. Bergenhus fortress, built in the 1240s, still guards the entrance to the harbor. Later, the city lost its role as the capital to Oslo.

During the 14th century, German traders from the Hanseatic League set up a trading post at Bryggen in Bergen. They traded dried cod from Norway’s northern coast, which helped Bergen become a major trading center in Northern Europe. Today, Bryggen is a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO.

In 1349, the Black Death arrived in Bergen on an English ship, and the city faced several outbreaks over the next centuries. Bergen also faced attacks, including one by the Victual Brothers in 1429, who burned much of the city. In 1665, a battle took place in the city’s harbor between English and Dutch ships. Fires also played a big role in Bergen’s history, with one in 1702 destroying most of the town.

Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, Bergen was one of Scandinavia’s largest cities and Norway’s biggest until the 1830s when Oslo grew larger. The Hanseatic traders’ control over the city’s trade slowly ended, and by the 1750s, their main trading post closed. Bergen was involved in trade during the time of the Atlantic slave trade, with local traders playing a part.

Bergen kept its special trading rights with northern Norway until 1789. The city’s stock exchange opened in 1813.

Modern history

Bergen became its own county in 1831 and was officially established as a municipality in 1838. Over time, several nearby areas joined Bergen, starting in 1877.

During World War II, Bergen was occupied by German forces on April 9, 1940. Resistance groups worked to oppose the occupation. In April 1944, an explosion from a Dutch ship caused damage in the city. Allied forces also carried out bombing raids to target German naval sites.

Bergen remains a mystery because of an unsolved case from 1970. The rural areas of Arna, Fana, Laksevåg, and Åsane became part of Bergen in 1972, and the city is now a municipality in Vestland county.

Fires

The city has seen many major fires throughout its history. Early fires in 1198 and 1248 destroyed churches and parts of the town. In 1702, a fire destroyed most of the city. More fires occurred over the centuries, with significant ones in 1751, 1756, 1771, 1901, 1916, and 1955, damaging buildings including old pharmacies and historic areas.

Toponymy

Bergen is called “the city among the seven mountains.” The name comes from Old Norse words meaning “mountain” and “new settlement.” Though there was a suggestion to change the city’s name to its ancient Norse form, it was not adopted, though the local diocese uses that older name.

Geography

Bergen is located on the peninsula of Bergenshalvøyen in the district of Midthordland in mid-western Hordaland. The city covers an area of 465 square kilometres (180 square miles). Much of the city is near a fjord or bay, and it also has several mountains. The city centre is surrounded by the Seven Mountains, including Ulriken, Fløyen, Løvstakken, and Damsgårdsfjellet. The highest mountain in Bergen is Gullfjellet, which stands at 987 metres (3,238 ft) above mean sea level.

Bergen is protected from the North Sea by islands such as Askøy, Holsnøy, and Sotra. The city borders several municipalities including Alver, Osterøy, Vaksdal, Samnanger, Os (Bjørnafjorden), Austevoll, Øygarden, and Askøy.

Climate

Bergen has mild and steady weather, with gentle summers and cool winters. The city gets a lot of rain all year, and sometimes it snows in winter, but it usually melts quickly. This is because Bergen is near tall mountains that help bring in the rain, making it one of the rainiest cities in Europe.

Even though Bergen is far north, its weather is warmer than you might expect. Summers can get warm, and the winters are not too cold, thanks to a warm ocean current nearby. The city rarely sees very extreme temperatures, with the hottest day ever reaching around 33 °C and the coldest around -16 °C.

Bergen is often cloudy, but scientists have been measuring sunshine more accurately recently.

Cityscape

The city centre of Bergen is near the Byfjorden and surrounded by mountains called the Seven Mountains. The city spreads out from there to the north, west, and south, with mountains to the east. Most people live in areas built after 1950. These areas have different kinds of homes like apartment buildings, terraced houses, and single-family homes.

The oldest part of Bergen is around Vågen bay. After a big fire in 1702, many new buildings were built, changing the city's style. The late 1800s brought fast growth and new neighborhoods like Nygård and Møhlenpris. In the 1950s and 1960s, more modern areas such as Fyllingsdalen were built with bigger apartment buildings. Today, Bergen keeps growing, with new homes being built in many directions.

Administration

Further information: List of mayors of Bergen

Bergen has used a parliamentary government since 2000. Before that, a city council led the city. Now, seven commissioners govern Bergen. They are chosen and appointed by the city council, the highest authority in Bergen.

Boroughs

Bergen is divided into eight areas called boroughs. Starting from the north and moving clockwise, the boroughs are Åsane, Arna, Fana, Ytrebygda, Fyllingsdalen, Laksevåg, Årstad, and Bergenhus. The city centre is in Bergenhus. Some parts of Fana, Ytrebygda, Åsane, and Arna are outside the main city area. This makes the whole municipality a bit larger than just the city area.

Demographics

Bergen is a big city in Norway, and many people live there. In 2022, about 286,930 people lived in Bergen.

People in Bergen come from many different places. Most have families that have lived in Norway for a long time. But many others have moved to Bergen from other countries. Some come from Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and other parts of the world. This makes Bergen a place where many cultures meet.

Education

Bergen has many schools! There are elementary schools, lower secondary schools, and upper secondary schools. The oldest school is Bergen Cathedral School, which was started in 1153.

Bergen is also home to important universities and research centers. The University of Bergen was founded in 1946. It studies many subjects, including climate, petroleum, and medieval times. The Western Norway University of Applied Sciences focuses on teaching, healthcare, and engineering. The Norwegian School of Economics in Sandviken is known for its business programs. Other schools in Bergen include the Bergen School of Architecture, the Bergen National Academy of the Arts, and the Norwegian Naval Academy.

Economy

Bergen is known for jobs that involve the sea. In 2004, a magazine called Time named it a special city for work with ships, fish farming, and ocean study. Big fish farming companies like Mowi and Lerøy have their main offices here. Ship owners in Bergen help run many ships in Norway’s merchant fleet.

The city is also home to important banks and insurance companies. It is where the Royal Norwegian Navy is based, and its airport, Flesland, is important for workers in Norway’s North Sea oil and gas industry. Tourism is very important to Bergen, especially because it is close to Norway’s famous fjords. Many big ships stop here, making it one of Europe’s top places for tourists.

Transport

Bergen has many ways to travel, including air, sea, road, rail, and light rail.

Air

Bergen Airport, Flesland is about 18 kilometres from the city centre. The airport helps many people fly to places in Norway and around the world.

Sea

Bergen has a big port, the largest in Norway. Many cruise ships visit, bringing tourists. The port moves lots of goods and plans to move out of the city centre. Ferries go to Denmark, and a special boat travels along the coast to the north.

Road

The city centre has a system to collect road fees. Major roads go in different directions, and big bridges connect Bergen to nearby areas. There is also a tunnel under the sea to an island.

Rail

Bergen Station is the end point of a train line that goes 496 kilometres to Oslo. Trains run often between Bergen and nearby towns.

Lightrail

Bergen has trams and trolleybuses. The modern tram started in 2010 and has been extended to the airport. There are also special funiculars and aerial tramways to mountains near the city.

Culture and sports

Bergen has many cultural activities and sports teams. It has several newspapers, including Bergens Tidende and Bergensavisen. The city has a big concert hall called the Grieg Hall, where the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra plays. There is also a famous dance company called Carte Blanche. Every year, Bergen holds a big cultural festival called the Bergen International Festival, and there is also a film festival named the Bergen International Film Festival. Two famous musicians from Bergen are Edvard Grieg and Ole Bull. You can visit Troldhaugen, Grieg’s home, which is now a museum.

Bergen has a main theatre called Den Nationale Scene, where the famous writer Henrik Ibsen once worked. The city also has many places for modern art, such as BIT Teatergarasjen and Bergen Kunsthall. In 2000, Bergen was named a European Capital of Culture. A special part of Bergen’s culture is the Buekorps, where boys from 7 to 21 years old march with drums and toy weapons. You can learn about Bergen’s history from the Hanseatic Museum at Bryggen.

Bergen’s most famous football team is SK Brann, which plays in the top league of Norwegian football. The team has won the Norwegian Football Cup seven times. They play at Brann Stadion, which can hold many fans. There is also another team called Åsane, and both teams have women’s teams too.

Bergen has many sports teams, including a top ice hockey team called Bergen IK, and handball teams like Tertnes. There are also good athletics clubs and an American football team called the Bergen Storm.

Music

Bergen is home to many famous musicians. Some well-known bands from the city are Röyksopp and Kings of Convenience. Bergen is also the birthplace of the famous composer Edvard Grieg. The largest music festival in the city is Bergenfest.

Street art

Bergen is known for its street art. Famous street artist Banksy visited the city, inspiring many others. One of Norway’s most famous street artists, Dolk, began his work in Bergen. Some of his art is protected by the city. In 2011, Bergen made a plan to become a leader in street art in Norway and Scandinavia. There is also a monument called Madam Felle, honoring a woman who opened a beer shop many years ago.

Parks and bathing places

Parks

Bergen has many lovely parks. Some of them are Nygårdsparken, Nordnesparken, Byparken, Teaterparken, Meyermarken, Gamlehaugen, Storetveitmarken, and Olsvikparken.

Bathing places

Bergen has many nice places to enjoy the water. Some of these places are Kyrkjetangen, Tennebekktjørna, Helleneset, Nordnes Sjøbad, Grønnskjæret, Hordvikhavn, Skjoldabukta, and Marineholmen Sandstrand.

Media

Newspapers

Bergen has had many newspapers over the years. Some started long ago and stopped, while others are still being made today.

Other Publications

Besides newspapers, Bergen also has other kinds of magazines and books, like science magazines and political journals.

TV Channels

There are also TV channels based in Bergen, including one made by students.

Neighbourhoods

Bergen has many traditional neighbourhoods. These include Bryggen, Kalfaret, Løvstakksiden, Minde, Møhlenpris, Nordnes, Nygård, Sandviken, Sydnes, and Verftet. Each area has its own charm and history.

Addresses in Bergen are part of different areas called grunnkrets.

International relations

Bergen has special friendships with other cities around the world. Every year, Bergen gives a Christmas tree to Newcastle's Haymarket to show friendship. From 1890 to 2008, these cities were connected by a ferry service.

Bergen is also friends with Gothenburg, Turku, and Aarhus. They hold school camps for students from each city. In 1970, on Seattle’s 900th anniversary, Seattle gave Bergen a totem pole, which now stands in Nordnes Park looking out to sea.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Norway

Bergen has friendly partnerships with several cities around the world. These partnerships began in different years:

• Aarhus, Denmark (since 1946)
• Gothenburg, Sweden (since 1946)
• Newcastle, England, United Kingdom (since 1968)
• Rostock, Germany (since 1957)
• Seattle, United States (since 1967)
• Turku, Finland (since 1946)

Notable people from Bergen

Main article: [List of people from Bergen]

Bergen has been home to many famous people throughout history. These individuals have made important contributions in different fields such as arts, science, and sports. Some well-known figures from Bergen continue to inspire people around the world today.