The bustling city of Bergen on the west coast of Norway dates back at least a thousand years. While today its economy is thriving, driven by maritime trade and tourism, this second largest city in Norway has seen its share of battles, raids, sickness (the black death decimated the city several times in the 1300s and 1600s), and fires (which reduced the city to ashes on a few occasions).

Bryggen, a row of Hanseatic heritage business buildings (1200s - late 1600s) on the east side of the harbor, became the center for commercial activities, though the area was already a small village and port by the mid 1000s. In the 1200s, Bergen and the Bryggen area served as the unofficial capitol of Norway, though that role was taken over by Oslo in the early 1300s. The Bryggen waterfront buildings have been rebuilt several times because of fires over the last 1000 years, and their sites serve today as restaurants, museums, and pubs. In 1979, Bryggen was named a UNESCO World Heritage site, and for photographers and tourists, makes for a great place to spend some time, especially in the early morning or later evening.

Bergen and its harbor are protected by either seven or nine mountains, depending on who you ask. Still, the most popular is Fløyen. This peak rises 1300 feet above the town below and is served by many trails leading up and down, as well as a funicular system called Fløibanen that takes both locals and tourists from the town center to the summit for amazing views of the city below.

If you have any questions about these photographs from Bergen, please do not hesitate to contact me.