Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
its thoughtful exhibits about military history, especially Bergen's WWII ex-
perience. You'll learn about the resistance movement in Bergen (including
its underground newspapers), the role of women in the Norwegian military,
and Norwegian troops who have served with UN forces in overseas conflicts.
Some exhibits are in English, while others are in Norwegian only.
Cost and Hours:
Free, Tue-Sun 11:00-17:00, closed Mon, just behind
Thon Hotel Bergen Brygge at Koengen, tel. 55 54 63 87.
▲▲Bryggens Museum
—This modern museum explains the 1950s archae-
ological dig to uncover the earliest bits of Bergen (1050-1500). Brief English
explanations are posted. From September through May, when there is no tour,
consider buying the good museum guidebook (25 kr).
Cost and Hours:
60 kr; in summer, entry included with Bryggen Walking
Tourdescribed earlier; mid-May-Aug daily 10:00-16:00; Sept-mid-May Mon-
Fri11:00-15:00,Sat12:00-15:00,Sun12:00-16:00;inexpensivecafeteriawith
soup-and-bread specials; in big, modern building just beyond the end of Bryg-
gen and the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, tel. 55 58 80 10,
www.bymuseet.no
.
Visiting the Museum:
The manageable, well-presented permanent exhibit
occupies the ground floor. First up are the foundations from original wooden
tenements dating back to the 12th century (displayed right where they were
excavated) and a giant chunk of the hull of a 100-foot-long, 13th-century ship
that was found here. Next, an exhibit (roughly shaped like the long, wooden
double-tenements outside) shows off artifacts and explains lifestyles from me-
dieval Bryggen. Behind that is a display of items you might have bought at the
medieval market. You'll finish with exhibits about the church in Bergen, the
town's role as a royal capital, and its status as a cultural capital. Upstairs are
two floors of temporary exhibits.
▲▲Hanseatic Museum (Hanseatiske Museum)
—This little museum was
founded in the late 1900s to preserve a tenement interior. Today it offers the
best possible look inside the wooden houses that are Bergen's trademark.
Its creaky old rooms—with hundred-year-old cod hanging from the ceil-
ing—offeratime-tunnel experiencebacktoBryggen'sglorydays.It'slocated
in an atmospheric old merchant house furnished with dried fish, antique
ropes,anoldoxtail(usedforwringingspilledcod-liveroilbackintothebuck-
