Approach into Bergen was quite an experience. From the air, it is such a beautiful place that one is transported into a fantasy world.
The airport is a tiny one and there is a direct bus that takes you to the city centre. I had very limited time in Bergen before taking the cruise to the fjords the next morning. So to acquaint myself with the city, I decided to do a walking tour arranged by the Tourist Information Centre. The tourist centre itself was housed in a beautiful old building with colourful frescoes depicting the history and culture of the people from Bergen. Their primary occupation was fishing, preservation of cod and boat building.
Bergen's first buildings were erected along the old Hanseatic wharf, Bryggen, which has been a lively and important part of the city through the centuries. This site, which features on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, comprises the remains of the old harbour buildings and is one of the best known medieval city settlements in Norway.
The Hanseatic merchants dominated Bryggen for 400 years. The area has been ravaged by fire repeatedly. Walking through the narrow alleyways and dark external galleries is like travelling back in time. At Bryggen the Hanseatic Museum and Schøtstuene, the Hanseatic assembly rooms, give an intimate picture of the life of a Hanseatic merchant.
Bryggens Museum based on the archaeological excavations of Bryggen, illustrates commerce, handicrafts and daily life in the Middle Ages. Next to the museum lies the twelfth century St. Mary’s Church, the oldest building in Bergen. Bryggen also houses the Theta Museum of the Resistance Movement during the Occupation of Norway during World War II.
Source: http://www.visitnorway.com/
The boarding point for the Fjord cruises.
The famous hanseatic buildings along the wharf.
An old building in the Hanseatic area.
The Fish Market is another important landmark and a must visit attraction. You can try out different kinds of salmon and pick up some fish for your lunch or picnic.
By taking the short ride with the Fløibanen Funicular from the city centre to the top of the Fløien Mountain (320 metres above sea level), you have a golden opportunity to view the city, the mountains, the fjords and the sea.
Overall, it is a small compact city which can be covered in a short while.
Norwegians love their trolls!
I love these narrow streets.
A sense of spookiness permeates this cozy drinking den. In 1849, a famous Norwegian bandit (Gjest Baardsen, the "Robin Hood" of Norway) drank himself to death here. Drinkers have reported sightings of a young serving wench in 17th-century costume who takes drink orders from patrons and then disappears without bringing the desired quaffs.
The fountain with the city of Bergen as a backdrop.
Nice Travelogue & great pics :)
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