Bergen is the second largest city in Norway.
Understand
Historically, Bergen has been an important trading center, and has many relics of its Hanseatic heydays. The city is a major cultural center in Norway, hosting many festivals and music events, such as Nattjazz, a jazz festival in May, Bergen International Festival, a festival featuring among other things concerts, theatre performances and dance, and Bergenfest, a festival with focus on hip hop and pop music. The city is known to have rainy weather, averaging approx. 260 rainy days a year. But, as the Bergen people say, "there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing". Still, it isn't that bad if you know when to travel. The city is a beatiful sight if you score a sunny day. The best time to visit is May, with the rest of summer coming close behind.
Get in
By plane
Bergen's International Airport is located 19 km south of the city. The main international destinations are Copenhagen, and Amsterdam. There are international flights to various cities in the United Kingdom (such as London, Edinburgh and Aberdeen), Prague, Paris, various cities in Spain and some other places. There are also a number of domestic flights, and Oslo, Stavanger and Sandefjord provide additional international destinations. The main carriers in Norway are SAS and the low cost carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle. The Dutch KLM has flights to Amsterdam where there are several connections.
There is a frequent airport bus service which takes about 30-40 minutes to downtown (costing NOK 75). Taxis are also available but they cost much more (NOK 300-400 to downtown). There are some regular local buses occasionaly going to and from the airport. They have a limited space for luggage and take longer time, but are a little bit cheaper than the airport bus.
By train
Bergen is served by a railway line which runs from Oslo. The railway line is operated by the Norwegian State Railways. The journey takes about six hours. The railway station is located on the east side of downtown.
By car
When travelling by car from Oslo, international E-road E16 is the best choice. The trip usually takes between six and seven hours, depending on the conditions and whether you choose to make any stops on the way.
From Stavanger, choose E39. The trip takes approximately three hours.
Generally, you will find that inter city roads are of poor quality. This is due to the rather low traffic and the somewhat difficult conditions in the mountains. Even if some people drive very fast, you should mind the speed limits (usually 80 km/h) and drive according to the conditions. In the mountains, help can be hours away. Furthermore, you will find traffic controls and police in unmarked cars nearly everywhere. Fines are very high.
If you plan to cross the mountains (for instance by driving from Oslo to Bergen) in the winter season, it is imperative that you are prepared for the journey. The conditions are harsh. Always keep a full tank of fuel, and keep warm clothes, food and drink in the car. Make sure your tyres are good enough, and that you have the sufficient skills for driving in snowy and cold conditions. Roads are often closed on short notice due to weather conditions. For advice on conditions and closed roads, call 175 in Norway.
If arriving in Bergen by car, you will be better off not taking your car into the city center unless you know exactly where you're going, as most streets are one-way or do not allow cars at all (only buses and taxis). There is a large parking garage by the railway station, in the south-eastern end of downtown. From here is a 5 min walk to the city center. There is a free bus as well.
By bus
Lavprisekspressen (The Low-Price Express) travels from Oslo to Norway. Via the network of NOR-WAY Bussekspress, Bergen is accessible from almost the entire country. Bus is usually the cheapest way to travel, but can take some time. The national buses are very comfortable. Schedules and fares are available online, and it is also possible to pre-book. Booking may be required on some routes.
By boat
There are fast boat services from Stavanger as well as several communities north of Bergen. Because these passenger ferries stop at various small towns on the way there, you get a great view of the coast, and of the islands in front of it. Fjord1 runs ferries north of Bergen, Tide runs services south of Bergen (including Stavanger-Bergen connection). The boat terminal is located on the Nordnes peninsula, across the bay from the famous Bryggen, next to the fish market, very close to the city centre.
Bergen is the southern terminus for Hurtigruten, which is a week-long passenger ship route all the way to Kirkenes in the far north of Norway. The terminal is located at Nøstet.
There are car ferries which run to and from Newcastle, northern Denmark, Shetland, Scotland, the Faroe Islands and Iceland, companies running the various lines are DFDS Seaways, Fjord Line, Color Line and Smyril Line. The terminal is the Skoltegrunn pier, some hundred meters beyond Bryggen.
Get around
On foot
Within the city centre, walking is the best way to get around. You can walk across the downtown in 20 minutes in any direction. During daytime, there is also a free bus service running from the bus station and around the city. Look for turquoise and red posters at bus stops saying "Parkeringsbussen" or "P-bussen" ("the parking bus"). This bus does not run on Sundays.
By bus
There is a fairly good local bus service. Bus schedules can be picked up from any bus, but are unfortunately only available in Norwegian. There is an information desk at the bus station providing information on all local bus and train lines free of charge. Calling 177 will also put you in contact with the information centre (if you call from a cell phone, be sure to ask for the information centre for Hordaland county, as this is a national service). Tickets and fare cards can be bought from the driver (cash payment only). Be sure to check out the various fare card options available, preferably at the information desk at the bus station, as they are considerably cheaper than buying single trip tickets. The most interesting options for tourists are a 24-hours card and "Verdikortet" ("value card"), a debit style card on which you deposit a sum of money of your choice. You and are given a 15 % rebate when you use it to buy adult tickets.
From summer 2007, tickets within the Bergen municipality cost NOK 23 per trip for adults, and NOK 12 for senior citizens, children and other people entitled to a rebate. When you purchase a ticket, you will find a time printed on it. Within this time you may use the ticket on one more bus than the one where you bought the ticket. You may get on one bus, buy a ticket, get off the bus after a few stops, have a break, then get on a new bus and travel the same or a different direction. The only exception is that it is not possible to use the ticket for a return trip. If unsure, show your ticket to the driver and ask if it is valid for the trip you are planning to take. If you are caught without a valid ticket or fare card, fines are stiff.
After about 1AM, regular bus services cease to run. In the weekends there are a few so-called "Night Bus" lines available. Tickets are more expensive than on the regular lines, and fare cards can not be used.
By car
It is an expressed goal of both local and national authorities to cut car traffic in the city centre. Thus, the speed limit downtown is very low, and most streets are one-way streets. If you plan on getting from one part of downtown to another, walking is usually faster then driving, even for locals that know their way around town. Furthermore, parking in the streets are reserved for the handicapped with only a very few exceptions. If plan to drive to the city centre from outside, park your car in a garage, such as Bygarasjen (at the bus station) and Klostergarasjen (at Nøstet, northern downtown), Bygarasjen being the cheaper. The free bus service mentioned above has stops at both Bygarasjen and Klostergarasjen.
By taxi
Taxi is generally expensive in Norway. Downtown Bergen, there are a number of taxi stalls where taxis are parked waiting for customers. During the day, taxis will usually not pick up customers nearer than 300 metres from the stalls. During the night, taxi queues can be very long (up to one hour), and all customers are therefore required to go to the stalls. The places where the taxis are stationed changes from time to time because of renovation of the citystreets, but usually you will find them at the bus station, the railway station, Festplassen and at Ole Bulls plass. Look for signs saying "Taxi". Some taxi stalls are only open during night, and vice versa. Information about this is printed on a separate sign below the taxi sign. If no taxis are available at the taxi stall, call 07000 (Bergen Taxi), 08000 (Norgestaxi) or 55 50 00 37 (Taxi 1). Note that there is usually a fee associated with calling a taxi.
Note that taxis from Bergen Taxi are the most expensive, Taxi 1 is the cheaper. If several taxis are available at a taxi station, you may pick the one you want from the line.
It can be added that taxi drivers rarely expect or receive any tip.
By train
There is one local commuter train service, between Bergen downtown and the suburb of Arna in the east. It is not a particularily interesting eight-minute journey since the majority of it is inside the Ulriken tunnel, and there are not all that many attractions in Arna either, apart from the heritage train which is operated on summer weekends. Nonetheless, if you for whatever reason are going to Arna, the train is by far the fastest option from downtown since the roads run around the mountain while the railway line runs straight through it.
See
Bergenhus fort
Once the seat of the king, Bergenhus fort is one of the oldest and best preserved forts of Norway. It dates to the late 12th century. The fort is situated close to the international ferry terminal.
The royal hall, Håkonshallen, was built some time between 1217 and 1261. Unlike some of the other structures on the fort, like the Church of Christ, used for coronation, the hall is still standing. It is being used today for royal galas. The roof is however reconstructed after a blast during World War II. The nearby Rosenkrantz tower has the same appearance as it had in the 16th century. With the old dungeon in the basement, the tower actually dates back to the same time as Håkonshallen. Two structures of this age has been built in to the tower.
Guided tours of the royal hall and the tower start every hour between 10AM and 4PM every day from May 15 to August 31 in the royal hall. From September 1 to May 14 tours are only available between 12 noon and 3PM on Sundays. Entrance fee is NOK 30 for adults and NOK 15 for children and students.
The fortress grounds serve as a city park; you can hang out here and eat that fish you just bought at the nearby fish market - or just enjoy the sunshine and the view. The park is popular among locals and tourists, but usually not crowded. It is normally not a problem to find a good spot for your picnic or a round of frisbee. There is a very good view of the bay.
The use of open fire, including barbeques, and the drinking of alcoholic beverages are forbidden. Unlike many other places, the prohibition of alcohol is enforced here, as the fort is still a military area with occasional military guards on patrol.
Bryggen
This small area used to be a Hansa dock, trading and processing area. Despite neglect and fires (Norwegian cities had a habit of burning down because everything is made of wood), a considerable number of buildings have survived and are now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you enter some of the alleyways between the storefronts you really get a feel of what Bergen must have been like in the middle ages. There is a museum on the history of Bergen and of Bryggen, but the most interesting aspect is probably that almost all of the buildings are still in use. One example is the restaurant Bryggen tracteursted, serving food and drinks in a building first opened for this purpose in 1708.
Do
Hiking
There are dirtroads and paths criss-crossing all the mountains surrounding the city. From Mt. Fløyen you can take a number of short walks, such as for instance to Mt. Rundemanen, with great panoramic views.
If you are more adventurous, a great hike is from Mt. Ulriken (take the cable car up, or hike up the hillside), across Vidden ("the Plateau") to Mt. Rundemanen, and down to Mt. Fløyen. This will take approx. 3-4 hours. The trail is marked by cairns, but you should take care if the weather is bad, as some of the hillsides are very steep.
For advice on hiking, as well as hiking opportunities elsewhere in Norway, you should consult Bergen Turlag (Bergen Hiking Association), the local branch of Den Norske Turistforening (Norwegian Trekking Association), located in Tverrgaten 4-6.
Learn
The University of Bergen, most of its premises situated at Nygårdshøyden, participates in EU's ERASMUS student exchange networks, and has several of its programmes taught in English.
Other schools include the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration (NHH), the Bergen University College (HiB) and Bergen National Academy of the Arts (KHiB).
Buy
Bergen has a number of small and interesting shops, sometimes with items made by local designers.
Eat
There are a great variety of restaurants and cafes in Bergen, but you should expect to spend some time looking for the best places. Move a block away from the most central parts of downtown to find lower prices and better food. Kitchens usually close at 11PM at the latest.
Waiters and other restaurant staff have good wages. You are not required to leave any money to cover the service, but many people choose to tip the waiter if he or she has been helpful and nice, and if the food was good. If you choose to leave a tip, rounding up or adding about ten percent will be more than enough. A rule of thumb would be that the more expensive the food is, the more are you expected to leave a tip.
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Drink
There is a great variety of bars, night clubs, concert venues etc. in Bergen. Night clubs are usually open from 11PM, but life never starts before 1AM. Bars opens at different hours, some can be open all day. No places are allowed to serve alcohol after 3AM. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays are the best nights, Saturdays being the clear winner. Many clubs have a 2 for 1 policy on Wednesdays, and Sundays are usually the night for people in the industry. Most places require that you are 20 years of age and that you can provide a valid ID, even if you are much older. Valid IDs are Norwegian bank cards, European standard driver's licenses and ID cards and passports. Prices vary great from place to place, ask at the door if you need to know. In the weekends, there is usually a cover charge from NOK 50 to NOK 100. Almost all night clubs and many bars have a dress code. The required attire does however vary, look below for more information (when the listing indicates "no dress code" normal, nice clothes are accepted). Supporter gear is generally not even accepted in sports pubs. Remember that smoking in all indoor areas where people work is strictly prohibited by law in Norway. Most restaurants, bars, night clubs etc. will require you to leave if you try to smoke indoors.
Sleep
Outside the summer season, getting a hotel room is usually not a problem, although it can be quite expensive unless you have a reservation. In the summer season (from May to September) a reservation well in advance is required.
Budget
The Bergen YMCA is a decent youth hostel right in the center of town, with a rooftop terrace where you can sit and look out over the old town centre.
Other bargain accommodation options include Marken (+47 55 31 44 04), Crowded House (+47 55 90 72 00), Jacob's Apartments (+47 982 38 600), Montana (+47 55 20 80 70), Intermission (+47 55 30 04 00), Scandia (+47 55 21 00 35), Villa Balconen (+47 55 96 40 60), and Intermission (+47 55 31 71 78).
Splurge
Contact
Norway does no longer use area codes in phone numbers. Phone numbers are normally eight digits, some special numbers may be three, four or five digits. In any case you should always dial all of the digits to make a call. The country code of Norway is 47. If you are calling abroad from a land line, dial 00 before your country code and phone number.
Cellular phone coverage is very good throughout the city through. Two different networks are available, Telenor and NetCom. Check with your local operator to find out which one is the cheaper for you. The difference is usually not big. Norway, like most of Europe, uses GSM 900 and 1800, which means that some cellphones from USA, Canada and countries in Asia will not work. For those in need of mobile data lines, both 3G/UMTS, EDGE and GPRS coverage is good on both networks.
There are no telephone centres in the city, and only a very few phone booths. Most hotels have phones in every room, but international calls from these phones are usually very expensive. There are some calling cards available, this is probably the cheapest way to phone home. Look for Lebara stickers in kiosks.
Many cafes and restaurants have free wireless Internet access for their patrons. Free wireless Internet access is also available at Bergen Public Library, Strømgaten 6 (by the bus station). Most large hotels do also have wireless Internet access, however access at a hotel is usually pricy.
There are a number of internet cafes around town. At Bergen Public Library, you may also use a computer with high-speed internet access for free. There is a reservation system, ask at the circulation desk.
Stay safe
Bergen has, as the rest of Norway, a generally low crime rate. The most likely crimes for tourists to experience is car break-ins and bicycle theft. Pickpockets do also tend to be an increasing problem. It is always a good idea to look after your belongings, this includes never leaving valuable objects visual in your car and locking your bike safely. Street violence at night time is common, but as long as you are not overly intoxicated and avoid getting into dicussions, you should be more than safe.
At Strandkaien and in Strandgaten, you'll find Bergen's "red light district" at night. As prostitution is legal in Norway, it is unfortunately visible. Prostitutes can be ongoing, but the problem is very small and far from the reality in other parts of Europe. The risk of getting in to trouble is very low, but families should be aware of the area, as not to expose their children to the sad reality. The same applies to the upper part of Nygårdsparken, where drug addicts tend to hang out. They are usually completely harmless, but nevertheless no fun to be around. The lower part of Nygårdsparken is however a beautiful place popular among the locals.
Fires are so unusual that the local fire department has been appealing to the public to let them know if houses are to be demolished, in order to let the fire department burn the structures down to get the necessary practice. Rules on fire safety in public buildings are very strict and inspections are carried out regularly. Still, when staying in hotels and night clubs, be sure to take note of possible escape routes.
There is an emergency and accident ward at Vestre Strømkai 19, close to the bus station. The ward is open all day all week, and provides examination and treatment in case of accidents and acute diseases. The ward is located together with a life crisis assistance centre, a psychiatric emergency ward, a reception centre for rape victims and a dental emergency ward. All services may be reached at +47 55 56 87 60. If you should be in need of immediate medical assistance, do however call 113.
Emergency numbers
If you are unsure which number to call, 112 is the central for all rescue services and will put you in contact with the correct department.
For non-emergencies, the police is to be called on 02800.
If calling the emergency services from a cell phone, be sure to state that you are in Bergen, as you may be connected to a central another place in the country.
The hearing impaired using a text telephone can reach the emergency services by dialing 1412.
Cope
Getting around by foot is easy, and free maps are available everywhere. If you need a better map, you should buy one of Bergens Tidende's maps . Bergens Tidende is the local newspaper. Maps are sold from their reception in Krinkelkroken 1, close to the blue stone, and possibly other places. The city map costs NOK 50.
Using the bus system can be somewhat difficult, as stops are not announced and many routes travel outside the main roads. However, the bus driver should be able to assist you.
Most citizens speak English more or less fluently. Many also speak German, Spanish or French, especially at tourist destinations.
VISA and MasterCard are normally accepted in any restaurant, taxi and store, except grocery stores. Many places, American Express, JCB and Diners Club are also accepted. ATMs accept all major credit and debit cards and are available in English language. The currency is Norwegian kroner (crowns), but euros may also be accepted at some tourist destinations (you should however avoid paying in euros as the exchange rates may be stiff).
The regular opening hours for grocery stores are 9AM-8PM. Some stores open earlier and close later. Other shops usually have shorter hours, except those in the shopping centres. Almost all shops, including grocery stores, are closed on Sundays and public holidays. Kiosks such as Narvesen, 7-Eleven and Deli de Luca are open. These do however often have very high prices for normal grocery items.
There are some smaller grocery stores open on Sundays and public holidays. This includes Kiwi at Nedre Korskirkeallmenningen 2 (by the Bergen YMCA and the Church of the Cross), Bunnpris (across the street from Kiwi) and Rimi at Nygårdsgaten 6.
The city's main post office is conveniently located in the Xhibition shopping centre, on 1st floor. Some grocery stores offers limited postal services, and stamps are available from most book stores and kiosks. Post boxes are either red or yellow and located all over town. Yellow boxes are only for local mail, if unsure use the red box. All post boxes, post offices and grocery stores offering postal services are marked with the official postal flag, a yellow horn on a red background, and the word "Posten".
is the second largest city in Norway and the largest on the west coast. The population of Bergen proper (municipality) is 244,620 as of January 1, 2007. The city is divided into 8 boroughs: Arna, Bergenhus, Fana, Fyllingsdalen, Laksevåg, Ytrebygda, Årstad and Åsane.
The city is located on the south-western coast of Norway, in the county of Hordaland, with its center situated between a group of mountains known collectively as de syv fjell ("the seven mountains"), although the number of mountains is a matter of definition. The first to name them "the seven mountains" was Ludvig Holberg, inspired by the seven hills of Rome. Bergen is recognized as the unofficial capital of the region known as West Norway, and also recognized and marketed as the gateway city to the world famous fjords of Norway and for that reason it has become Norway's largest – and one of Europe's largest cruise ship ports of call. Furthermore, Bergen's inter-municipal harbour is by far Norway's largest port and also one of Europe's largest ports according to the inter-municipal company Port of Bergen, handling more than 50% of all cargo handled in Norway in 2005.
Time magazine named the city one of Europe's 14 "secret capitals" (August 2004), where Bergen's capital reign is acknowledged within maritime businesses and activities such as aquaculture and marine research, with the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) (the second-largest in Europe) as the leading institution. Bergen is also the main base for the Royal Norwegian Navy (at Haakonsvern) and its international airport Flesland is the main heliport for the huge Norwegian North Sea oil and gas industry, from where thousands of offshore workers commute to their work places onboard the many oil and gas rigs and platforms.
Bergen was one of nine European cities honoured with the title European City of Culture in 2000.
History
The city of Bergen was founded by king Olav Kyrre in the year 1070 AD. Bergen celebrated its 900th anniversary in 1970. It was considered to be Norway's capital in the 13th century until 1299. Towards the end of the thirteenth century, Bergen became one of the Hanseatic League's most important bureau cities.
The main reason for Bergen's importance was the trade with dried cod from the northern Norwegian coast, starting up around 1100. The Frisian and German Hanseatic merchants lived in their own separate quarter of town, where Frisian and Low German was spoken, enjoying exclusive rights to trade with the northern fishermen that each summer sailed to Bergen. Today, one still gets a feel of this at the quayside of Bergen called Bryggen, today on the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites.
In 1349, the Black Death was introduced to Norway by the crew of an English ship arriving in Bergen. In the 15th century the city was several times attacked by the Victual Brothers, and in 1429 they succeeded in burning the royal castle and much of the city. In 1536, the king was able to force the Frisian and German merchants to become Norwegian citizens or return home, heralding a decline in the German influence. In 1665, the city's harbour was the site of the bloody Battle of Vågen, between English ships on the one side and Dutch ships supported by the city's garrison on the other. Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, Bergen remained the biggest city in the Nordic countries, and it remained Norway's biggest city until 1850, when overtaken by Oslo. Bergen retained its monopoly of trade with Northern Norway until 1789.
In 1916 parts of the city centre were destroyed by a devastating fire, the last of many such fires throughout the city's history. During World War II, the city was occupied on the first day of the German invasion on 9 April 1940, after a brief fight between German ships and Norwegian coastal artillery. On 20 April 1944, during the German occupation, the Dutch cargoship Voorbode anchored off the Bergenhus fortress, loaded with over 120 tons of explosives, blew up, killing at least 150 people and damaging historic buildings. The city was also subject to some allied bombing raids, aiming at German naval installations in the harbour. Some of these led to civilian casualties numbering over 100.
In 1972, Bergen was unified with neighbouring municipalities (Arna, Fana, Laksevåg and Åsane), abolishing its county status and getting its present boundaries.
The name Bergen
The Norse forms of the name was Bergvin and Bjørgvin. The first element is berg n or bjørg f 'mountain' - the last element is vin f 'pasture, meadow'. The meaning is then 'the meadow among the mountains'. (A suitable name: Bergen is often called 'the city among the seven mountains'.)
There are about one thousand names in Norway composed with the element -vin, and they all are pronounced with the second tone. The only exception is the name Bergen (which are pronounced with the first tone). The cause of this is probably the German influence in the city.
In 1918 there was a campaign to reintroduce the Norse form Bjørgvin as the name of the city. This was turned down - but as a compromise the name of the diocese was changed to Bjørgvin bispedømme.
Cityscape
Bergen is widely regarded as one of the more beautiful cities of Norway. The oldest part of the city is on the north side of the bay of Vågen. Here you find Bryggen, a number of old, wooden houses from the early 18th century, the product of rebuilding after a fire in 1702, done in the style of the medieval buildings that stood on the site before the fire. Six houses (to the left, see picture) were rebuilt after a fire in 1955. Saint Mary's Church is the oldest building in Bergen, parts of it dating from around 1130. Two other churches, the cathedral and the Korskirken church are also medieval, although modified later. The fortress of Bergenhus has a number of interesting buildings, notably Haakon's Hall, a royal hall dating from the 1260s, and the Rosenkrantz Tower, built around a medieval fortification in the 1560s.
A popular tourist attraction is the open air fishmarket along the harbour. Further down you find the main shopping area, rebuilt after a fire in 1916 in art nouveau and functionalist style, around the main square Torgallmenningen. Several old quarters of white, wooden houses are scattered in and around the centre, notably in Nordnes, Marken and Sandviken. Nygårdshøyden is a quaint area with a large number of buildings dating from late 19th century, many with neoclassical facades. Some parts of Bergen have been rebuilt since WWII rectifying damage due to British bombing and an explosion accident, and thoughtless urban planning. Whole blocks of ancient wooden houses are still regularly demolished in the city centre, most recently in Nøstet and Krinkelkroken. Strolling around in Bergen will generally reveal areas of very differing architecture.
Further attractions are a ride with the funicular up to Mount Fløyen, where one is rewarded with a splendid view over the city and the fabled seven mountains. From here, it's also possible to hike in a huge area of spectacular and largely untouched scenery. The aquarium with seals, penguins and fish from the area is also popular.
Administration
Since 2000, the city of Bergen is governed by a city government (byråd) based on the principle of parliamentarism. The government consists of 5 government members called commissioners, and is appointed by the city council, which is the supreme authority of the city. Since the local elections of 2003 the city has been ruled by a centre-right coalition of Høyre (conservatives), the Christian Democrats and Venstre (liberals). The conservative party member Herman Friele is mayor, while conservative Monica Mæland is the leader of the city government, the most powerful political position in Bergen.
Climate
: See also: Geography of Norway
Bergen is renowned for its plentiful rainfall (and has been nicknamed Regnbyen or The city of rain), which makes up most of the 2250 mm (88 in) yearly average precipitation. For some years there were paraplyautomater (umbrella vending machines) installed in the streets, however, they did not turn out to be a success. A joke is told in Bergen about a tourist asking a local boy if it ever stops raining. "I don't know," replies the boy, "I'm only twelve". Rain fell every day between 25 October 2006 and 20 January 2007 - thats 98 consecutive rainy days! Bergen is one of the warmest cities in Norway, thanks to the Gulf Stream. 10°C and rain can happen both in January and July. The warmest temperature ever recorded is 31.8°C in 1947, the coldest ever recorded is -16.3°C in 1987.
Universities and research
The University of Bergen (UiB) is known for its strong marine biology and geology (petroleum) research. Recently the university was awarded three national centers of excellence in climate research, petroleum research and medieval studies. In December 2004, billionaire Trond Mohn donated 250 million NOK to the University as research funding. Only months later (April 2005), he added an additional NOK 50 million. UiB has approximately 17,000 students and 2,500 staff.
Bergen University College offers studies directed towards specific professions. The college is organised in 3 faculties: Faculty of Education, Faculty of Engineering, and Faculty of Health and Social Sciences. HiB has approximately 6,000 students and 600 staff.
Bergen is also home of the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration (NHH), a leading school of business and economics in Norway and the world (See the Financial Times ranking of Masters programs in Europe, 2005 and 2006). Finn E. Kydland, the last (2004) of three Norwegian laureates of the "Nobel Prize" in economy, has studied and lectured at this school. NHH has approximately 2,800 students, many coming from all over Europe and the US and 300 staff.
Bergen Architect School (BAS), funded in 1986 by architect Svein Hatløy, has alternative programs, with graduants like 3RW arkitekter and Tommie Wilhemsen.
The Naval Academy of the Royal Norwegian Navy is located at Laksevaag in Bergen.
The Chr. Michelsen Institute is also located in Bergen. Founded in 1930 it has become one of Scandinavia's major independent research institutes on human rights and development issues.
Since 1900, the Norwegian Fisheries Investigations ("Norske Fiskeriundersøgelser") was located in Bergen. Today this is known as The Institute of Marine Research, an internationally renowned institution for marine research Norwegian Institute of Marine Research
Commerce and industry
Main businesses in Bergen are:
Transportation
Bergen has an international airport, Bergen Airport, Flesland, with direct flights to many European cities. The Bergensbanen railway line runs east to Voss, Geilo, Hønefoss and Oslo.
The E16 road to Oslo passes through the Lærdalstunnelen, the longest road tunnel in the world.
Public transportation is provided by Tide. Among the fleet of buses are 8 trolleybuses (two of which are dual-mode buses). Local train transport to Arna is provided by Norges Statsbaner. There is also a funicular (Fløibanen) and an aerial tramway (Ulriksbanen). The tram system was closed in 1965, although a museum line still operates on Møhlenpris. The construction of a modern light rail line connecting the city centre with Nesttun and Bergen Airport has been approved by Stortinget and is underway. Express buses go to all larger destinations in Norway.
The Norwegian coastal steamer service Hurtigruten originates in Bergen, running north to Trondheim, Bodø, Tromsø and Kirkenes. Passenger catamarans run from Bergen south to Haugesund and Stavanger, and north to Sognefjorden and Nordfjord. Car ferries connect to Hanstholm and Hirtshals in Denmark, Lerwick and Newcastle in the United Kingdom, Tórshavn on the Faroe Islands, and Seyðisfjörður on Iceland.
Culture and sports
Bergen is also an important cultural centre in its region and in Norway, maybe best known for hosting the annual Bergen International Festival (Festspillene i Bergen). The city is home of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, which was founded in 1765 and is one of the world's oldest orchestral institutions. The orchestra performs regularly at the 1,500 seat Grieg Hall . Bergen was a European Capital of Culture in 2000. Other main cultural events include Nattjazz and Bergenfest (formerly Ole Blues).
In addition, there are numerous amateur bands in Bergen and the surrounding communities, performing regularly throughout the city. They generally fall within two distinct categories: brass bands, following the British band tradition, and Janitsjar or wind bands, which include both woodwind and brass instruments. Both of these types of bands tend to be quite competitive, and the Grieg Hall in Bergen is home to the annual Norwegian Brass Band Championships, which takes place in late winter. Bergen also has two fairly large newspapers, Bergens Tidende, and the less formal Bergensavisen.
Bergen is also home to Buekorps, a prominent feature in the city's Constitution Day celebrations. Buekorps consists of a parade in the streets with wooden sticks shaped as guns or crossbows, sabres and even halberds, to a military snare sounded by several drummers. The performers are usually boys between 7 and 16 years of age, but much older "veterans" can also be seen. Buekorps are regarded with warmth by some, whilst others dislike it due to its militarised appearance or the dominant sound of the drumming.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s many pop, rock and black metal artists from Bergen became famous, at home and abroad. Many of these were connected to the small record label Tellé. In the domestic press this became known as the Bergen Wave. Musicians and bands from Bergen include Annie, Burzum, Enslaved, Gorgoroth, Immortal, Erlend Øye, Kings of Convenience, Röyksopp, Sondre Lerche, Nazgûl and Datarock.
Bergen has a small but thriving scene for contemporary art, most notably centered around BIT Teatergarasjen, Bergen Kunsthall, United Sardines Factory, USF and Bergen Center for Electronic Arts, BEK.
The most successful football team, Brann, plays in the Norwegian Premier League (2007), while Løv-Ham plays in the Norwegian First division.
Famous people from Bergen
Twin cities
Bergen has several sister cities. They are:
See also
External links
