BERGEN

The Gateway to the Fjords of Norway

Located by Sognefjord in the North and Hardangerfjord in the South, surrounded by seven mountains, picturesque hillsides with tiny wooden houses and narrow streets, Bergen is one of the UNESCO World Heritage cities.

Founded more than 900 years ago, Bergen was isolated from the rest of the country due to the geography of Fjord Norway. On the contrary, the city was open to Europe, with a large fleet of wooden sailships. Bergen had become a flourishing trade centre as one of the main offices of the Hanseatic League.

The city is an international centre for aquaculture, shipping, offshore petroleum industry and subsea technology and a national centre for higher education, tourism and finance.

Bergen Port is Norway’s busiest in terms of freight and passengers with over 300 cruise ship calls annually.

Bergen is well known for the mildest winter climate in the country because of the Gulf Stream and the mountains protecting from the cold winds.

Although the city is connected to the rest of the country with roads, bridges, ferries and the scenic Bergen Railway, its passionately patriotic inhabitants still feel disconnected from the rest of Norway. They are very proud of their many-sided city and its history and cultural traditions, and have a popular saying: “I don’t come from Norway, I come from Bergen”