Bryggen is the row of colourful wooden buildings along the eastern side of Bergen harbour. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 and is the most photographed spot in the city.
The history goes back to around 1070. In 1350 the Hanseatic League established an office here and gradually took control of the stockfish trade. At its peak, up to a thousand young German men lived and worked in these narrow wooden buildings, sleeping in shared beds with no heating allowed indoors because of fire risk. Open flames were only permitted in the assembly halls at the back, the Schøtstuene.
Bryggen has burned down many times. The last major fire was in 1955, and the rebuilding always followed the old methods and patterns. A thirteen-year archaeological dig after the 1955 fire uncovered thousands of runic inscriptions, scratched into sticks and bones, giving a rare glimpse into daily medieval life.
Today 62 buildings remain. The front row is mostly gift shops, restaurants, and tourist businesses. It is very commercial now, and on cruise ship days the narrow alleyways get packed. To see the more authentic side, walk into the passageways behind the main row. The leaning walls and crooked timbers there are the real thing. For more depth, visit the Hanseatic Museum nearby.
The history goes back to around 1070. In 1350 the Hanseatic League established an office here and gradually took control of the stockfish trade. At its peak, up to a thousand young German men lived and worked in these narrow wooden buildings, sleeping in shared beds with no heating allowed indoors because of fire risk. Open flames were only permitted in the assembly halls at the back, the Schøtstuene.
Bryggen has burned down many times. The last major fire was in 1955, and the rebuilding always followed the old methods and patterns. A thirteen-year archaeological dig after the 1955 fire uncovered thousands of runic inscriptions, scratched into sticks and bones, giving a rare glimpse into daily medieval life.
Today 62 buildings remain. The front row is mostly gift shops, restaurants, and tourist businesses. It is very commercial now, and on cruise ship days the narrow alleyways get packed. To see the more authentic side, walk into the passageways behind the main row. The leaning walls and crooked timbers there are the real thing. For more depth, visit the Hanseatic Museum nearby.