Bergen - world heritage city

Bergen is located in the county of Hordaland on the south-western coast of Norway. It is a World Heritage City and an important cultural hub in its region.

The city is home to a progressive musical scene, several theatres and a professional ballet ensemble. This is the home town of the world famous dramatist Jon Fosse; Henrik Ibsen was once the manager of the city theatre, and one of the oldest symphony orchestras in the world, the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, is located here.

The homes of Edvard Grieg, Ole Bull and Harald Sæverud are unforgettable settings for concerts during the festival, when art of the highest calibre is to be found throughout the city. 

The city centre of Bergen is located west in the municipality, facing the fjord of Byfjorden. It is situated among a group of mountains known as the Seven Mountains, although the number is a matter of definition. From here, the urban area of Bergen extends to the north, west and south, and to its east is a large mountain massif.

Ever since the intrepid King Olav Kyrre sailed into the harbour and founded the city in 1070, Bergen has attracted people from all quarters of the world. Some came and went, others decided to make Bergen their home. Bergensers travelled abroad and learned and so Bergen became a melting-pot of cultures and Norway’s most international city.

The fjords are Scandinavia’s tourist attraction Number One – and Bergen opens the door to a virtual kingdom of fjords. It is one of the reasons why Bergen is one of Europe’s most visited cruise ship harbours. The sea has carved itself through and across Norway’s long coastline and has given us nature in many facets.