Bergen - Norway - page 275

latter known for depicting dramatic landscapes in western Norway. In addition
to the art, note the decorated ceiling and wall painting in the Blumenthal
Room from the 18th century.
Some of the greatest modern art in western Norway is found in the Sten-
ersen Collection. Most of the work, by Norwegian and international artists, is
from the 20th century, and includes northern Europe's most extensive collection
of Paul Klee's works . The masters of modern art are all here: Picasso,
Edvard Munch, Joan Miró, Vassily Kandinsky, and Max Ernst, as well as a host
of lesser-known artists.
Rasmus Meyers Allé 3-9. & 55-56-80-00. Combined ticket to all 3 galleries 50NOK ($7.10). Tues-Sun
noon-4pm. Bus: 1, 5, or 9.
Bergen Museum Part of the University of Bergen, this two-in-one
museum consists of both a Cultural History Department and a Natural History
Department. Founded in 1825, the museum formed the basis for launching the
university in 1946 after the defeated Nazis had ended their occupation.
Naturhistorisk Samlinger is filled with displays and exhibitions from the Ice
Age, including prehistoric fossils. However, visitors come here mainly to see the
whale collection (northern Europe's largest collection), and the exhibits of
snakes, Norwegian birds, and crocodiles (displayed in various ways—stuffed, fos-
silized, preserved in jars). The origins of the creatures in the collection range from
Greenland to Africa. You can also visit a plant house and a botanical garden.
The Kulturhistork Samlinger features exhibitions and displays on art history,
archaeology, and anthropology. For many, this is the most interesting of the
museums as it covers everything from Egyptian mummies to “Ibsen in Bergen,”
which traces the writer's growth as a playwright during the 6 years he spent from
1851 to 1857 with the Norwegian Theater in Bergen. You'll also find the largest
collection of Norwegian church art in the country, a display of delicate
Viking jewelry, and exhibits devoted to such North American cultures as the
Aleut and Inuit.
Cultural History Department, Håkon Sheteligs Plass 10; Natural History Department, Muséplass 3. & 55-58-
31-40 for the Natural History Dept. and the Cultural History Dept. Admission for both museums 30NOK
($4.25) adults, 15NOK ($2.15) seniors, free for children and students. May 15-Aug Tues-Sun 11am-4pm; off
season Tues-Fri 10am-2pm, Sat-Sun 10am-3pm. Bus: 2, 3, or 4.
Bergens Sjøfartsmuseum (Bergen Maritime Museum) In a scenic loca-
tion in the middle of the University of Bergen's campus, this museum presents
the history of shipping in west Norway. Exhibits show the shipping industry's
importance to port cities and Norway's role in World War II during the Nazi
occupation, and displays include models of the Viking ships that terrorized
Europe. Also on display are paintings and marine artifacts rescued from the
North Sea.
Haakon Sheteligsplass 15. & 55-54-96-00. Admission 30NOK ($4.25) adults, free for children. June-Aug
daily 11am-3pm; Sept-May Sun-Fri 11am-2pm. Bus: 2, 3, or 4.
Bryggens Museum This museum displays artifacts unearthed during exten-
sive archaeological excavations of Bryggen from 1955 to 1972, from the remains
of the oldest buildings in Bergen (from the 12th c.) in their original settings to
runic inscriptions. The museum also illustrates the daily and cultural life of
Bergen in the Middle Ages. Call ahead to find out about its regularly changing
exhibits, as well as its folk-music and dance performances.
Bryggen. & 55-58-80-10. Admission 40NOK ($5.70) adults, free for children. May-Aug daily 10am-5pm;
Sept-Apr Mon-Fri 11am-3pm, Sat noon-3pm, Sun noon-4pm. Bus: 20, 21, 22, 23, 50, 70, 71, 80, or 90.