Bryggen is the oldest and most captivating area of the Norwegian city of Bergen.This small commercial town dates back to 1070 and was part of the Hanseatic League’s trading empire from the 14th to the mid 16th century. It attracted over 860,000 visitors in 2011.
Here you will find restaurants, artists' studios, craftsmen’s workshops, small boutiques and even offices. The colourful facades of its wooden warehouses and gables probably make up the most familiar image of Bergen in most visitors’ mind.
The buildings of Bryggen were gradually taken over by the Hanseatic merchants. As the town developed into an important trading centre, the wharfs were improved. The Bryggen district owes its physiognomy to the German colonists.
It is characterized by the construction of buildings along the narrow streets running parallel to the docks. Each of the buildings in the area comes with an interesting past. The warehouses were filled with goods, particularly fish from northern Norway, and cereal from Europe. Bryggens Museum was built in 1976, on the site of fire that occurred Bryggen in 1955, and comprises archeological remains from the area.
Throughout history, Bergen has experienced many fires, since, traditionally, most houses were made from wood. Even though the district suffered some damage over the years, the reconstructions were always executed using traditional practices and the same materials as the original buildings. Walking through the narrow streets and observing the details of its classic architecture is a notable experience. Bryggen has since 1979 been on the UNESCO list for World Cultural Heritage sites.
Photo source
I. C.
