Bergen (Norway)

Bryggens Museum

Bryggen in Bergen has been a busy part of the city since the Middle Ages. Both the oldest wooden buildings and the thick cultural layers located below ground appear on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 1955 parts of Bryggen burnt down, and the 13 year archaeological excavation which subsequently took place uncovered hundreds of thousands of objects which give an insight into everyday life in the city in the Middle Ages. After the fire there was a heated discussion over the future of Bryggen, and many of the city’s inhabitants wanted to demolish the remaining wooden buildings. Fortunately public opinion changed, helped by the new and till then unknown stories of the city that was being unearthed. As a result – and with chief curator Asbjørn Herteig as the driving force – Bryggens Museum was established in 1976.