Bryggen

Bryggen (Norwegian for the Wharf), also known as Tyskebryggen (the German Wharf) is a series of Hanseatic commercial buildings lining the eastern side of the fjord coming into Bergen, Norway. Bryggen has since 1979 been on the UNESCO list for World Cultural Heritage sites. The name has the same origin as the Flemish city of Brugge.

The city of Bergen was founded in 1070. The area of the present Bryggen constitutes the oldest part of the city. Around 1360 a Kontor of the Hanseatic League was established there, and as the town developed into an important trading centre, the wharfs were improved. The buildings of Bryggen were gradually taken over by the Hanseatic merchants. The warehouses were filled with goods, particularly fish from northern Norway, and cereal from Europe.

Throughout history, Bergen has experienced many fires, since, traditionally, most houses were made from wood. This was also the case for Bryggen, and as of today, around a quarter dates back to the time after 1702, when the older wharfside warehouses and administrative buildings burned down. The rest predominantly consists of younger structures, although there are some stone cellars that date back to the 15th century.

Parts of Bryggen were destroyed in a fire in 1955. This area was used for the construction of Bryggen museum containing archeological remains, plus some old-style wooden houses, these being the six leftmost houses on the panoramic picture below. Controversially, a brick hotel was also raised on the premises, which is seen behind these six houses.

Today, Bryggen houses tourist, souvenir, and gift shops, in addition to restaurants, pubs and museums.

Media

Panoramic view of Bryggen

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Marius Watz
11 March 2017
You can't miss this historic neighbourhood of old wooden houses and tiny alleys ("smau" in local lingo.) It's tourist-y with some awful souvenir shops, but also beautiful.
Edwin Tan
7 August 2016
beautiful and very interesting place. Pray for sun to have the best photos.
Svein-Magne Tunli
5 September 2012
Bryggen also known as Tyskebryggen ("the German Wharf") is a series of Hanseatic commercial buildings lining the eastern side of the fjord coming into Bergen.
Ivan Jonsson
15 July 2016
Bryggen features some nice restaurants and bars with outdoor seating. It features a nice view. The big traffic going through is a nuisance.
Lisa Starbucks
5 March 2018
It's smaller than expected and tge interesting parts are really at the back end of the buildings. Overall I thought they could make better use of the space.
Алла Трапезникова
Исторический район Бергена с цветными домиками, набережной и кораблями и яхтами разного калибра. Есть туристический центр, экскурсии на фьйорды. Отличное место для фото.
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