Bryggen

Bryggen, the old wharf of Bergen, is a reminder of the town's importance as part of the Hanseatic League's trading empire from the 14th to the mid-16th century.

Several fires, the last in 1955, have ravaged the beautiful wooden houses of Bryggen but its main structure has been preserved. Many of the remaining 58 buildings are now used as artists' studios.

Year	Decision	Comments
1979	Inscribed	Reasons for inscription

Visit July 2002

There's not much left of the special wooden houses: during the ages a large number of them burnt down, and the remaining ones are now mainly used as souvenir shops - open 7 days a week and catering to the American and Japanese visitor, selling trolls and knitted stuff.

For an experience of what has been, there are two must-sees: the Schøtstuene and the Hanseatic Museum. The Schøtstuene is a small wooden building that served as an assembly room for the Hanseatic merchants. They came here to eat, drink, meet and teach their pupils. The dining/meeting hall with its large fireplace is especially worthwhile to take a look at

The Hanseatic museum, a few doors away also in a traditional building, shows how a Hanseatic merchant lived in the 18th century. His own rooms were nicely decorated, in contrast to those of the boys that were still in training. They could even be locked up in their beds at night by their supervisor!

More photos can be found in the Picture Gallery

Reviews

Clyde (Malta):
I visited this WHS in May 2010. The colourful leaning wooden houses along the Bryggen harbour were the highlight of my visit. I ate a delicious whale steak with cranberry sauce in one of the very good restaurants there (registered in the whale husbandry programme). Great place to visit!

Date posted: September 2012

John Booth (New Zealand):
I found the tourist kitsch of the waterfront over the top, especially the Tongan bar. But I did find some less touristed sites like the King Haakon's Hall, the Maria church, Rosenkranz Tower and the fort as well as the backside of Old Bryggen along Bryggestredet.

Date posted: May 2010

Ingemar Eriksson (Sweden):
As already written, Bryggen is very touristic. I agree that the backside is more intresting, and while in the area, do go uphill and explore the old town there. I found that part of Bergen more intresting to explore.

Date posted: July 2008

Stephen Brooker (UK):
We visited the Bryggen, in some of the worst weather I have ever experienced on holiday. As such my abiding memories of this site are quasi-kitsch gift shops and sitting warm and cosy in a bakers drinking a cuppucino whilst watching a tallship depart the harbour.

Yet once you look beyond the current uses of the buildings, the structures themselves are a fascinating time capsule and given the fragility and suseptability to fire of such buildings a remarkable survival.

Perhaps not a site one would go to see in issolation, but when coupled with the grandeur of the West Norwegian Fijords well worth a visit.

Date posted: April 2008

Joyce (Netherlands):

When visiting the city of Bergen it is hard not to see Bryggen: the small area of old wooden houses. I first walked by and took a quick peek, but later on I found out the backside of the houses are actually more interesting since you can see the wooden structures better that way.

Date posted: December 2005

Klaus Freisinger (Austria):
The area around the port of Bergen is called Bryggen and recalls the city´s glory days as part of the Hanseatic League. As stated above, a fire destroyed much of the old city, but what remains is still very interesting and a must-see sight when you´re in Norway. The walk along the very long harbor road is pleasant (at least on the hot summer day when I was there and the breeze from the sea cools you off) and there´s always a chance to go see a museum or visit the interesting aquarium.

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