BERGEN, THE GATEWAY TO THE FJORDS

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BERGEN, THE GATEWAY TO THE FJORDS

Francesca Zambolin
September 10, 2021

Bergen is the second major city in Norway just after the capital Oslo. This city is really less cosmopolitan and thus more linked to the origins of Nordic culture. That is one of the reason why Bergen is called “Gateway to the fjords”. In fact, it offers an extraordinary mix of mountains, ports, music and culture.

Let’s see what this city has to offer and discover some of its own gems.

BRYGGEN HARBOUR

The small port of Bryggen, located on the bay of Vågen, has been deservedly declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The location, recognizable above all thanks to the colorful wooden houses that make the port truly evocative, hosts also the fish market. Here, you can buy the freshest Norwegian salmon and taste unusual fish “snacks” and much more. For example, don’t miss the chance to try salmon, you will have the feeling that you have never eaten it before! Here you can also eat whale meat, fishing is legal and the permitted limits are never exceeded. It is certainly not cheap – nothing actually is in Norway – but it is an experience not to be missed.

BERGENHUS FORTRESS

At the entrance to the port of Bergen, as well as in the characteristic Bryggen, we can come across the monumental Bergenhus fortress. This is a real milestone in the history of the town and of the whole of Norway. The Bergenhus Fortress has been destroyed and rebuilt several times, yet it is surrounded from a very well kept park and from which you can enjoy a wonderful view over Bergen.

MOUNT FLOYEN

The climb to Floyen Mount is a favorite destination for lovers of nature. It indeed offers a breathtaking view of the fjords and a true enchanted landscape. Mount Floyen is about an hour from the center: you can choose to take advantage of the taxi service or the Fløibanen. This latter one is the cable car that will make you live 10 minutes of pure fun up to the coveted top of the famous Mount Floyen.

Fan fact: be prepare to meet cute little goats peep here and there! Moreover, giant trolls are ready to take selfies with you, and the area is full of gardens and parks!

THE KODE MUSEUM AND GRIEG’S HOUSE

Among the most significant attractions in Bergen there are:

the KODE Art Museum
the house of the musician Edvard Grieg

The vast KODE museum complex is actually a museum complex. However, the most important attraction is undoubtedly the world’s largest collection of works by Edward Munch, the haunted but extraordinary Norwegian artist.

Music is another of the famous attractions of Bergen. That’s not only due to the numerous and varied musical events that the city offers every year. It is also thanks to the evocative house-museum dedicated to the well-known Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. In Bergen you can visit the villa where the musician and his wife lived as well as where the artist composed, surrounded by lush greenery of the beautiful Troldhaugen.

DEN NATIONALE SCENE MUSEUM

The Den Nationale Scene Museum is the city’s ancient permanent theatre. It is a building created in 1850, even though a wing of it was destroyed after the Second World War. The theatre has also undergone other modernizations, yet it still hosts some of the continent’s most important shows.

THE HARDANGERFJORD

You cannot claim to have visited Norway without having experienced the legendary Nordic fjords at least once in a lifetime. The extraordinary Hardangerfjord is worth taking the journey: a real earthly paradise of water, trees and steep mountain slopes. A scenario worthy of the best postcard.

Here it is also possible to see Trolltunga, the “tongue of the troll”, a rocky outcrop overhanging 700 meters above Lake Ringedalsvatnet.
It is located in the village of Skjeggedal near Odda, about a 40-minute drive from Bergen.

Article Tags: bergen, fjords itinerary, Norway

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BERGEN, THE GATEWAY TO THE FJORDS

BRYGGEN HARBOUR

BERGENHUS FORTRESS

MOUNT FLOYEN

THE KODE MUSEUM AND GRIEG’S HOUSE

DEN NATIONALE SCENE MUSEUM

THE HARDANGERFJORD

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