Along the waterfront in the Norwegian city of Bergen is one of its most historic and beautiful areas – Bryggen. A row of colourfully painted shopfronts face the wharf, but down the narrow alleyways in between you’ll find a jumble of overhanging balconies and walkways. This is the oldest part of Bergen, which was first built on back in 1070. It became the base for the local Hanseatic League, a German guild of merchants, who turned the original buildings into warehouses and built a wharf – called a bryggen in Norwegian, giving the area its name. Fires razed the buildings to the ground more than once over the years but they were always rebuilt. The oldest still standing now date back to 1702 but some are much younger – the latest fire was only in 1955. Today instead of storing fish they’re used for shops, art studios and restaurants.
27 Comments
Rajiv
July 17, 2014 at 10:50 amNice colours… This is in Germany?
Lucy Dodsworth
July 18, 2014 at 7:12 pmThanks – it’s actually Norway, on the eastern coastline near to the fjords.
Actually Mummy
July 17, 2014 at 11:29 amI just love the colours of this post – makes me want to visit!
Lucy Dodsworth
July 18, 2014 at 7:13 pmThe bright colours were lovely – they get a lot of rain here so I guess it’s one way to make it look cheerful whatever the weather!
Packing my Suitcase
July 17, 2014 at 1:30 pmLook like a little doll city, how amazing is it? 😀
Lucy Dodsworth
July 18, 2014 at 7:14 pmIt does! It was so neat and tidy too.
Packing my Suitcase
July 19, 2014 at 9:36 amI love these kind of places 🙂
Roberto Rodriguez
July 17, 2014 at 3:44 pmNever been to Norway, but this post is inspiring. I like the colourful mix of wooden houses. Very interesting!
Lucy Dodsworth
July 18, 2014 at 7:15 pmThanks, it’s a great country to visit – lots of beautiful natural scenery as well as the pretty towns too.
Katie MacLeod
July 17, 2014 at 6:37 pmIt looks like such a pretty place! Lovely photos 🙂
Lucy Dodsworth
July 18, 2014 at 7:16 pmThanks Katie, it was lovely, the colours were just gorgeous.
Aroon Melane
July 18, 2014 at 2:12 amSo colorful and pretty! I would love to come here one day!
Lucy Dodsworth
July 18, 2014 at 7:17 pmI really loved Norway – hope you do get to visit sometime!
Aroon Melane
July 19, 2014 at 6:47 pmThanks. I hope so too 🙂
bevchen
July 18, 2014 at 11:53 amI love it! So quaint and colourful. I need to go to Norway.
Lucy Dodsworth
July 18, 2014 at 7:18 pmYou do! I was really impressed with it and would love to go back and see more – just need to save a bit first!
Heyjude
July 18, 2014 at 7:00 pmLovely photos Lucy. I wish I’d had a digital camera all those years ago!
Lucy Dodsworth
July 18, 2014 at 7:20 pmThanks Jude – I feel like that about a lot of places I visited in Asia and Australia – will have to go back now I have a digital camera as have about 100 photos from a yearlong trip!
OutsideBeautyInsideHealth
July 18, 2014 at 11:20 pmWow what an interesting little town. You captured it wonderfully.
Lucy Dodsworth
July 22, 2014 at 3:09 pmThanks, it was a really cute place, loved the weird angles and overhanging windows.
sarahyeagley
August 1, 2014 at 4:32 pmBeautiful photos! It looks like you transported into a fairytale to take these!
Lucy Dodsworth
August 3, 2014 at 6:52 pmThanks, yes it was almost an unreal looking place!
Dave Briggs (@davestravelpage)
August 2, 2014 at 10:00 pmThose wonderful photos have made me want to visit. I am cycling through Norway next year, so will detour to make sure I do!
Lucy Dodsworth
August 3, 2014 at 6:53 pmSounds like a fantastic trip! There are so many fantastic destinations in Norway – hope you do get to make it to Bergen on the way.
ashinthemeadow
August 3, 2014 at 7:14 pmVery cool photos! Looks like an adorable place to visit. Added to the list! 🙂
Reiselykke
November 8, 2014 at 9:07 amNice photos, Lucy! You now, that’s where I went to University. Glad you liked it!
Lucy
November 8, 2014 at 7:50 pmSuch a beautiful city! I just need to get back and see a bit more of Norway now!