Bergen Norway - A Walking Tour of the Fjord Capital | 4K 60fps
Hello Walkers! Welcome to Bergen City in Norway. Bergen, located on Norway's west coast in Vestland county, is the country's second-largest city after Oslo. It spans 465 square kilometers (180 sq mi) on the Bergenshalvøyen peninsula, surrounded by mountains and bordered by Byfjorden, the city fjord. As of 2022, its population was roughly 289,330. Bergen is known as the "city of seven mountains" and serves as the administrative center of Vestland county. Originally founded in 1070 as Bjørgvin, it was a significant trading hub during the Hanseatic League era. Today, Bergen thrives as an international hub for aquaculture, shipping, offshore petroleum, and subsea technology, and is a major center for education, media, tourism, and finance in Norway.
Its port is the busiest in Norway, welcoming over 300 cruise ships annually. The city's climate is mild in winter due to maritime influences, with substantial rainfall throughout the year. Bergen, traditionally believed to have been founded by King Olav Kyrre in 1070 AD, actually had a trading settlement established as early as the 1020s or 1030s. Over time, it emerged as a pivotal city in Norway's history, gradually assuming the role of the country's de facto capital by the early 13th century. The city's cathedral witnessed Norway's first royal coronation in the 1150s, marking Bergen's significance in national governance. The construction of Bergenhus fortress in the 1240s underscored its strategic importance, guarding the entrance to Bergen's bustling harbor and ensuring its prominence in maritime trade. By the mid-14th century, Bergen had become a major center for the Hanseatic League, with Bryggen serving as
a hub for trade in dried cod from northern Norway. This trade monopoly, granted by King Håkon Håkonsson, fueled Bergen's growth into one of Northern Europe's largest trade centers by the late 14th century. The Hanseatic merchants, residing in their own enclave and conducting trade in Middle Low German, wielded considerable economic influence, though tensions occasionally arose with other foreign merchants, such as Scots, settling in Bergen. This historical richness is preserved today in Bryggen, Bergen's iconic waterfront district, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Throughout its history, Bergen has navigated fires, conflicts, and economic shifts, yet it has maintained its status as a cultural and economic powerhouse in Norway. Its legacy as a medieval trading hub and center of Norwegian governance continues to shape its vibrant present-day identity. In 1349, the Black Death arrived in Norway on an English ship that docked in Bergen. Subsequent outbreaks in 1618, 1629, and
1637 each claimed about 3,000 lives. Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, Bergen was among Scandinavia's largest cities and served as Norway's primary urban center until the 1830s, when Oslo surpassed it. During this time, Bergen's trade shifted from Hanseatic dominance to favor Norwegian merchants, leading to the closure of the Hanseatic Kontor in the 1750s. Bergen also played a role in the Atlantic slave trade during the 17th and 18th centuries,
with notable figures like Jørgen Thormøhlen, the city's largest shipowner, contributing to its industrial development, particularly in the Møhlenpris neighborhood. Bergen maintained a monopoly on trade with northern Norway until 1789, and the Bergen Stock Exchange (Bergen børs) was established in 1813. In 1831, Bergen became its own county, and on January 1, 1838, it was established as a municipality (formannskapsdistrikt). Bergen landdistrikt merged with Bergen on January 1, 1877, and Årstad followed suit on July 1, 1915.
During World War II, Bergen was occupied by German forces on April 9, 1940, after a brief skirmish with Norwegian coastal artillery. Resistance groups in Bergen included Saborg, Milorg, "Theta-gruppen," Sivorg, Stein-organisasjonen, and the Communist Party. On April 20, 1944, the Dutch cargo ship Voorbode exploded near Bergenhus Fortress, killing over 150 people and damaging historic structures. Allied bombing raids targeting German naval installations in the harbor caused civilian casualties, numbering around 100.
Bergen gained notoriety in Norway for the Isdal Woman (Isdalskvinnen), an unidentified person found dead in Isdalen ("Ice Valley") on November 29, 1970. The case, unsolved to this day, has sparked international speculation and remains a significant mystery in Norwegian history. On January 1, 1972, the rural municipalities of Arna, Fana, Laksevåg, and Åsane merged with Bergen. Bergen lost its status as a separate county on the same date and is now a municipality within the county of Vestland. I hope you enjoy the walk!
2024-07-20 08:19
