Bergenhus Fortress

Bergenhus occupies the point at the entrance to Bergen's harbour and is one of the oldest fortifications in Norway, built where the royal residence of Holmen stood when Bergen was the capital of the kingdom. Two medieval buildings survive within the later walls. Haakon's Hall was completed around 1261 as a royal banqueting hall for the wedding of King Magnus, a large stone hall with a high timber roof. The Rosenkrantz Tower next to it grew from a thirteenth-century keep, rebuilt in the 1560s by the governor Erik Rosenkrantz into a Renaissance residence with a spiral stair and gun positions. Both were gutted by an explosion in the harbour in 1944 and rebuilt in the decades after.

History

In medieval times the area, called Holmen, held the royal residence in Bergen, the cathedral of Christ Church with the shrine of Saint Sunniva, the bishop's residence and a Dominican monastery. Haakon's Hall was built around 1260 and a tower around 1270 that became part of the Rosenkrantz Tower in the 1560s; the churches were taken down between 1526 and 1531, when the name Bergenhus came into use (Wikipedia, Bergenhus Fortress).

What you'll find

• Haakon's Hall - a royal stone banqueting hall of about 1261.
• The Rosenkrantz Tower - a medieval keep rebuilt as a Renaissance residence.
• The fortress grounds - ramparts and open ground at the harbour mouth.
• The harbour view - Bryggen and the port from the walls.

When to go

May to September, when both buildings keep full opening hours; winter hours are shorter and the buildings close for events, including concerts in the hall. The grounds are open year-round.

What to expect

Both interiors are post-war reconstructions after the 1944 explosion, so the medieval fabric is partial. Opening hours vary and closures for functions are common. The grounds are pleasant but there is little interpretation outdoors.

Nearby

Bryggen's wooden wharf is next door; the fish market and Mount Floyen funicular are a short walk.

Key facts