Bryggen in Bergen

The dock, (Norwegian: Bryggen), consists of a series of Hanseatic heritage commercial buildings on the east side of the harbour in Bergen. They also called bryggen the German dock (Tyskebryggen) since it was build by the German Hanseat around 1350. Bryggen soon became the centre of the Hanseatic commercial activities in Norway.

In 1979 The Dock, or Bryggen, became part of the UNESCO World Heritage list.

History

Wikipedia: Bergen was established before 1070 AD. Around 1350, an office of the Hanseatic League was established in Bryggen. As the town developed into an important trading centre, the wharfs were improved and the buildings of Bryggen were gradually taken over by the Hanseatic merchants. They stored goods, mostly stock fish from northern Norway, and cereal from Europe in the warehouses.

Fire and flames damaged the buildings of the Hanseatic League in 1702. They were rebuilt, but some of them were later demolished. In 1754 the flames took more, and the Hanseatic operations and their office in Bryggen ended. Norwegian citizens then got their properties back.

Throughout history, Bergen has experienced many fires, since most of its houses were traditionally made from wood. This was also the case for Bryggen, and as of today around 1/4 were built after 1702, when the older wharf side warehouses and administrative buildings burned down. The rest mainly consists of younger structures, although there are some stone cellars that date back to the 15th century.

Bryggen today

As a motorcyclist of today (tourist), Bryggen is a must-see sight when in Bergen. Park nearby and use your feet for an hour or so. Bryggen is more than the great looking facade. You’ll find food from all corners of the world, and if you walk between the buildings and behind the facade, you’ll find all kind of handcraft, artwork and touristy stuff going on. You can also get guided tours and visit some authentic decorated houses from the Hanseatic period.