Bergen was founded by King Olav Kyrre around 1070. Olav Kyrre was king in Norway from 1067-1093. Kyrre means "peaceful" which was a good description of his reign without any conflicts or wars. The city's oldest urban development and financial centre throughout medieval times was located on Bryggen.

The earliest recorded buildings were single-storied post structures, set in parallel rows up from the shore which in the 11th Century lay about 140 metres further inland from today's quay front. As the need for storage space increased, the buildings were extended into the harbour.

Under King Haakon Haakonsson in the13th Century, Bergen became a very important centre for European trade. By this time, Bryggen was a densely built-up area with around 30 tenements. Commercial sailing vessels from the Faeroes, the British Isles, the Baltic and Continental North Sea ports would lie moored on Vågen in front of the wharfs. It was through the port of Bergen the Black Plague entered Norway in 1349. The plague ended up killing more than half of the Norwegian population.

Next:

The Hanseatic League 1360-1754

The Norwegian Kontor 1754 - 1899

Mainpage Bryggen