Bryggen (the dock), also known as Tyskebryggen (, the German dock), is a series of Hanseatic heritage commercial buildings lining up the eastern side of the Vågen harbour in the city of Bergen, Norway. Bryggen has been on the UNESCO list for World Cultural Heritage sites since 1979.
The city of Bergen was founded around 1070 within the boundaries of Tyskebryggen. Around 1350 a Kontor of the Hanseatic League was established there, and Tyskebryggen became the centre of the Hanseatic commercial activities in Norway. Today, Bryggen houses museums, shops, restaurants and pubs.
History
Bergen was established before 1070 AD. In the Middle Ages, the Bryggen area encompassed all buildings between the sea and the Stretet (Øvregaten) road, from Holmen in the north to Vågsbunnen in the south. According to the Sagas, the city was founded within this area.
Around 1350, a Kontor of the Hanseatic League was established in Bryggen. As the town developed into an important trading centre, the wharfs were improved and the buildings of Bryggen were gradually taken over by the Hanseatic merchants. The warehouses were used to store goods, particularly stockfish from northern Norway, and cereal from Europe.
In 1702, the buildings belonging to the Hanseatic League were damaged by fire. They were rebuilt, and some of these were later demolished, and some were destroyed by fire. The Bryggen museum was built in 1976 on part of the site cleared by the fire.
Architectural heritage
Bryggen was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, by Criterion (iii):
Notable houses at Bryggen include Bellgården (a 300-year-old building), Svensgården, Enhjørningsgården, Bredsgården, Bugården, Engelgården. The oldest and tallest building in the area is St Mary's Church. Streets include Jacobsfjorden. Museums include Bryggens Museum and Hanseatic Museum and Schøtstuene.
Gallery
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Norwegian national day at Bryggen with Ulriken in the horizon.jpg|Norwegian national day on Bryggen, 2018
NO-bergen-bryggen-02.jpg|
Bryggen, Bergen, Noruega, 2019-09-08, DD 114.jpg|
Norway Bergen Bryggen Night Panorama.jpg|Bryggen by night
Bryggen, Bergen, Noruega, 2019-09-08, DD 118-121 PAN.jpg|Panorama
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