Norway

Bryggen

WHS Score 3.18
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Bryggen comprises the remaining structures of a Hanseatic merchant quarter from 1350-1754.

The port city of Bergen was home to a kontor, one of four major trading posts of the Hanseatic League. From here they controlled the stockfish trade. This colony of bachelor German merchants lived and worked in a separate quarter with warehouses and small individual houses. Several fires have ravaged the wooden houses of Bryggen but its main structure and 62 buildings have been preserved.

Community Perspective: a very touristy place nowadays with colourful leaning wooden houses.

Site Info

Official Information
Full Name
Bryggen (ID: 59)
Country
Norway
Status
Inscribed 1979 Site history
History of Bryggen
1979: Inscribed
Inscribed
WHS Type
Cultural
Criteria
  • iii
Links
UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
Related Resources

Community Information

  • Community Category
  • Urban landscape: Maritime
Travel Information
Undergoing Restoration or Repair
Undergoing Restoration or Repair
The Finnegård, a component of the core zone and seat of the Hanseatic Museum, …
Recent Connections
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Connections of Bryggen
Individual People
Geography
Trivia
History
  • Hanseatic League
    "In 1350 the Hanseatic League established a “Hanseatic Office” in Bergen. They gradually acquired ownership of Bryggen and controlled the trade in stockfish from Northern Norway through privileges granted by the Crown." (OUV)
  • Located in a Former Capital
    Bergen, capital of Norway (1070-1299)
Architecture
World Heritage Process
Human Activity
WHS on Other Lists
Timeline
  • Built in the 14th century
    1350 Hanseatic League, bears the traces of social organization of space going back to the 14th century (AB ev)
Visiting conditions
  • Undergoing Restoration or Repair
    The Finnegård, a component of the core zone and seat of the Hanseatic Museum, is being "pulled up from the ground" where it has slowly sunk (so I have been told) and will stay closed for this major restoration until 2025 at least.
News

No news.

Recent Visitors
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Visitors of Bryggen
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Community Reviews

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First published: 26/01/16.

Michael Turtle

Bryggen

Bryggen (Inscribed)

Bryggen by Michael Turtle

Very pretty old wharf but, yes, very touristy. It's a bit better out the back. If you just pretend everyone isn't there, though, you can still get good look at the buildings and how they all fit together. It's quite interesting.

There seem to be a lot of sites related to the Hanseatic League, I have realised. Here's yet another one to add to my list! :)

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First published: 07/09/12.

Clyde

Bryggen

Bryggen (Inscribed)

Bryggen by Clyde

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!

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First published: 03/05/10.

John Booth

Bryggen

Bryggen (Inscribed)

Bryggen by john booth

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.

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First published: 13/07/08.

Ingemar Eriksson

Bryggen

Bryggen (Inscribed)

Bryggen by Hubert

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.

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First published: 24/04/08.

Stephen Brooker

Bryggen

Bryggen (Inscribed)

Bryggen by Stephen Brooker

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.

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First published: 27/12/05.

Joyce Van Soest

Bryggen

Bryggen (Inscribed)

Bryggen by Joyce van Soest

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.

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First published: 01/05/05.

Klaus Freisinger

Bryggen

Bryggen (Inscribed)

Bryggen by Hubert

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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First published: 29/07/02.

Els Slots

Bryggen

Bryggen (Inscribed)

Bryggen by Els Slots

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 visitors, 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!

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