As within our Oslo-tours we arrange all tours in Bergen individually.
Her is one of my favored Bergen-tours:
The diverse layers of the Hanseatic city of Bergen
This tour is from 3 hours (the basics) and can be extended to a day tour, including the mountaintop Fløyen and a few more hidden treasures of architecture and history.
Still, we will pass by contemporary architecture. Up to the customer the focus of this tour may be shifted in favour of contemporary architecture.
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A possible starting point is Bergenhus, the old mediaeval district of the early kings and clerics. From Håkonshallen (1247 - 1261) it´s just a short walk along the water to the old merchants wooden-houses of the Hanseatic League’s trading empire from the 14th to the mid-16th century, called Bryggen, which are one of the most famous attractions of the city. Bryggen is at the list of world heritage sites (UNESCO): https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/59/
It´s worth spending a while here, getting lost in the deep and extremely small alleys, the very typical and traditional grid of all the sites at the Bergen-waterfront. Nearby the church of Maria (Mariakirken from 1120, the oldest building in Bergen) is situated.
The next station is the Fsketorget, the fish-marked in the heart of Vågen-district. This marked is a vivid and very popular place for both tourists and local people.
A few steps and we reach the district Strand, opposit Bryggen. A rather non-touristic area characterized by the allmeninger - all-men: public spaces in the city, dedicated to the inhabitants, originally evolved from the repeating city-fires. Walking up a little hill, using somewhat withdrawn and almost hidden streets with wooden terraced houses, and reaching a former workers' settlement from 19th century, which is today neatly restored and inhabited. In medieval times there was only a monastery on the hilltop. Today this district called Nordnes is due to the white wooden houses which are colorful decorated with flowers, one of the most charming areas of the city. Additionally, you have a fantastic view over the other side of the city.
When walking to the city center we pass Den Nasjonale Scenen, the city-theatre, Ole Bulls plass and Torgalmeningen, a composition of modern and classical architecture within the classical rectangular grid of the 19th century. Torgalmeningen is the most European place in Norway! Framed from impressive buildings from the last century, the finest is unquestionably the classical modern shoppingmal Sund, which is listed and at present under restoration.
The beating heart of today's city of Bergen is definitely the huge water-basin Lille Lungegårdsvann and the adjoining Festplassen – the «celebrating square». This spacious places are also originated from a city-development of the 19th century. The architecture which is framing this airy and spacious park is mainly from the 19th and 20th century. Most of the architectures are housing the arts of Bergen, here we will find 5 large exhibition sites which are hosting both historical and contemporary arts. Just behind the pearls of art we will find another highlight of Bergen: Grieghallen, the concert hall named after the great Norwegian composer Edward Grieg.
We are passing the nearby the district of the main station. After crossing the rather shabby but charming neighbourhood of Marken with both affordable foodstores and restaurants and affordable rooms for students, we are back in the mediaeval centre of the city. Let´s have a look at Korskirken, (the church of the holy cross) and Domkirken (cathedral church)! Both churches are built around 1150, but destroyed and rebuilt over the centuries.
Almost around the corner the station of the Fløibanen is located (the funicular railway to the mountaintop Fløyen)
The tour ends at the mountaintop, or wherever our customer desires to go!
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