BERGEN, NORWAY

Surrounded by seven mountains, a short distance from the country’s wildest and scenic fjords – encapsulating the best that Mother Nature has to offer – Bergen is Fjord Norway’s capital.

Surrounded by seven mountains, a short distance from the country’s wildest and scenic fjords – encapsulating the best that Mother Nature has to offer – Bergen is Fjord Norway’s capital. Boasting nearly 1,000 years’ experience of welcoming visitors to the area, the inhabitants are justly proud of their beautiful city that has a great shipping, trading and cultural tradition. In 1070, King Olav Kyrre gave this Viking harbour the status of a town, and ever since then, Bergen has been open to the world! During the Middle Ages when King Håkon’s Hall was built, that we shall pass by today, Bergen was the effective capital of the powerful Kingdom of Norway (Oslo now holds this title). The Hanseatic merchants established one of their four most important trading stations here. Passing Rosenkrantz Tower, a little further on we see Bryggen – the picturesque wooden Hanseatic quarter along the harbour – as well as the fish market. We continue up the Nordnes peninsula, known for its white houses from the 19th century and the Bergen Aquarium, which is home to one of Europe’s largest marine life collections. There are beautiful views of the harbour. Returning to the centre via a viewpoint and along the base of the tallest mountain in Bergen, Mount Ulrik (610 metres/2,000 feet above sea level), we rejoin our ship.

This is a non-stop driving tour which requires no walking.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2008 NORWAY CRUISES