Bergen - The Gateway to Norway's Fjords

 We cruised into Bergen, Norway in the wee hours of the morning. It wasn't light yet but the city already looked magical and I couldn't stop taking photos. Bergen was our last stop on our Norwegian Fjords cruise on Holland America's Rotterdam and it would be one of my favorites. Come along as we explore Bergen, the Capital of the Fjords!

Bergen, located on the west coast of Norway and in the heart of the fjords, is Norway's second largest city. Surrounded by mountains and fjords, it was once the center of the Hanseatic League's trading empire. It is a UNESCO World Heritage City and a European City of Culture. It's perfectly situated between Norways two biggest fjords, the Hardangerfjord and the Sognefjord, and even though it is Norway's second largest city, it has more of a small town feel. 

We arrived on a sunny day which was quite miraculous as Bergen is known as " the rainiest city in Europe" seeing over 300 days of rain. We decided to do Bergen on our own - as I've mentioned before the excursions were quite pricey so we picked a few excursions and then we did some days on our own - and our group gathered together after breakfast to head to our first stop for our day in Bergen. I had saved directions to get to the Floyen Funicular but unfortunately, the Rotterdam didn't dock where I thought it was going to. So after quite a long walk we stopped at the Bergen TI for an old school map and directions. The funicular wasn't far from the TI so we made the short walk and were ready to ascend Mt. Floyen.

Floyen Funicular

It's official name is the Floibanen Funicular and it is one of Norway's best known and most visited attractions. This funicular takes you from the center of Bergen up Mt. Floyen in about 5 to 8 minutes. It opened in 1918 and consists of two carriages, holding 120 people each, fastened to a cable and driven by two large pulleys. It's not only a tourist attraction but also transportation for people who live on the mountain.

Once at the top you have fantastic views over the city. There is also a restaurant, shop, cafe, playground and a large area for hiking. You can even hike the 18 kilometers over the mountain to Ulriken which has its own cable car that you can use to descend down.

That's our cruise ship

One of the main attractions are the 10 cashmere goats - six girls and four boys. They are first and foremost there to clear vegetation (they use a virtual fence solution for grazing livestock to keep them on the mountain) but they are very popular with visitors to the mountain. And if you're lucky, you can get a selfie with them! 

 

Bryggen

Bryggen is an historic harbor district or "the old wharf" which was the center of the Hanseatic League's empire from the 14th to the 16th century. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was one of four of the League's worldwide import and export offices in which they traded stockfish, dominating the trade for almost 400 years. There have been numerous fires that have ravaged the wooden structures, the last in 1955, and today there are 62 buildings remaining from the townsite. It's appearance today is from the time after a fire in 1702 and would represent how this colony of German merchants (all bachelors) lived and worked - offices in the front, warehouse in the midsection and kitchen facilities and stone cellars at the back. It is one of the best known urban areas from the Middle Ages in all of Norway.

We wandered the area going in some of the stores -many of the stores sell traditional Norwegian handicrafts, and there are artists studios including textile designers and jewelers deep within the maze - walked through the famous fish market and stopped in at a pub for an adult beverage. Bryggen is famous and popular for a reason - the colorful, wooden clad buildings are very picturesque and the area around it is welcoming - and I truly enjoyed our visit here. We were here in September on a weekday when the area wasn't quite so busy and sitting outside would've been a bit brisk but I can imagine how busy it could be in the summer or times of nice weather. 

Time for a Danish beer in Norway!

Bergen really stole my heart - it's small town feel, fresh air, fantastic wharf and the trip up the mountain made for a fun day. I'd love to go back and stay in the city to explore more of the area. Who knows? Maybe that will happen someday!

How about you? Have you been to Bergen?

Linking up with: My Corner of the World at Photographing New Zealand!