Bergen

We visited Bergan in 2006 and again in 2012. Bergan was one of the four centers of the Hanseatic League in the 13th to 17th centuries. Hanseatic League was an association of merchant guilds set up for trading and defense and in the old town (called Bryggen) many of the old league building still exist. Many have been converted to small craft shops that are interesting to brose through. There is a farmer market next to old town that sells a variety of food, furs, and other souvenirs. It is a good place to get a taste of reindeer, whale, and other meats that are not normally available.

Also worth a visit is the Fantoft Stave Church. A stave church is a medieval wooden church with a post and lintel construction similar to timber framing. The original Fantoft Stave church was built in 1150 and moved to Bergin in 1883. It burned down and the current structure is a recreation.

One of the most famous Norwegian composers and pianists was Edvard Grieg, who was born in Bergen in 1843. You can tour his house and hear one of his piano concerto in a performance hall built next to his house.

The city is surrounded by mountains which are great to hike in. Behind old town at the foot of the mountain there is a funicular that will take you to up to Floyen where there is a great view of the city and surrounding bay. There are numerous hiking paths of various levels of exertion that start from Floyen. We hiked past Skomakerdiket Lake up to Rundemanen mountain. The peak has great view of the city, surrounding fjords, and where there is a radio tower that dates back to WWII.