The weather in Bergen isn’t always bad. Yes, it does rain a lot, but often it is short lived. On those days when being outside is really less desirable, there are other things to do.
Museums are always a good place to spend a rainy afternoon and in Bergen, we visited several, including:
The Kode Museums occupy four large buildings in the center of the city. Extensive collection of art and design including masterpieces by Edvard Munch, Nikolai Astrup, Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, and J. C. Dahl.- The Bryggens Museum displays findings of the archaeological excavations of Bryggen from 1955 and contains the foundations of the oldest buildings in Bergen.
- The history and economics of this entire part of the world revolve around fish, and the Norwegian Fisheries Museum tells the stories about life along the coast and at sea. The museum is located in old wharf-side warehouses as old as Bryggen.
- The Hanseatic Museum occupies one of the oldest wooden buildings in Bergen, furnished in 18th century style and shows the life of the Hanseatic merchants.
One evening we took an excursion to the edge of town to attend a concert and visit Troldhaugen, the home of composer Edvard Grieg (1843-1907). Beloved by Norwegians, Grieg is best known for his Piano Concerto in A minor (listen) and Peer Gynt (listen) (written in collaboration with equally famous Norwegian playwright and poet Henrik Ibsen ). He was friends with many contemporary composers including Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Liszt, Delius, Saint-Saens among others.
Other delightful distractions (when available) include local festivals, and musical performances. Two organ concerts in conjunction with the Bergen International Organ Festival were especially entertaining. The first was in Mariakirken or St Mary’s Church, believed to have started in the 1130-40s and completed around 1180, making this church the oldest remaining building in the whole city of Bergen. Though the structure was ancient, the Organ was new, having been dedicated at the church’s reopening in 2015 after several years of restoration. Organist Jens Korndörfer played a selection of Baroque music that filled the historic old church.
The following evening we attended another concert in the newer Johanneskirken or St. John’s Church, and featured the original organ from when the church was built in 1894. Michael Schöch’s program was also a bit more modern but no less outstanding.
While in Bergen, the 20th Annual Bergen Spillfestival or Bergen game festival began. In one of the world’s biggest game festivals, they host tournaments and entertainment including Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, chess, poker, backgammon, family activities and more. The week-long festival probably also serves as preparation for the long, cold winter not far ahead.
With only a handful of days remaining in Bergen, it was clear that we hadn’t seen everything, but seeing everything has never been a goal. Still, there were still many things we could do.
Mount Ulriken is one of the seven mountains that surround Bergen and after a few days of rain we finally had a beautiful day for our trip to the 643 m (2,110 ft) summit. The sun had come out, and the weather, though a bit chilly, allowed for some exploring of the mountaintop moors, rocks, and mud. After a small picnic, we took the cable car back down and walked the three miles back through town to our apartment, wandering through quaint neighborhoods on small cobblestoned lanes.
There was enough time to make one last trip on the fjords, so we went to the innermost part of the Osterfjord, and into the Mostraumen, a channel so narrow that boats are just able to pass through. The return trip carried us through narrow fjords surrounded by sheer mountains rising straight out of the deep water and covered with forests that grew right down to the water’s edge. We passed many waterfalls and one of more impressive was a beautiful double torrent called Heskjedalsfossen.
The following few days were spent coddiwompling Bergen, getting about and around this charming city. Flip through the images and you will understand why we can say Bergen has been very good to us, in spite of the weather.
Yes it has been very good, but once again it was time to move on. We believe it is important that we never leave someplace, instead we go someplace new. How about … Iceland?
Linda
5 Jan 2017What a great idea to have a festival of games. Especially with all the electronics today I think that is a great idea. Glad you attended some organ recitals. The fjord pictures are spectacular.
Missy Ortega
3 Jan 2017Coddiwoppyling through Bergen… That is so cool!
Missy Ortega
3 Jan 2017I meant to write Coddywompyling, instead of coddywoplying… something like that. Sorry. Still love all of this blog !
Brian Hudson
3 Jan 2017As always, I love seeing memories of your travels. Exceptional photography Chris!
Wayne
3 Jan 2017Another great set of photos to take us there!
cathi
3 Jan 2017LOVED the “junk store” photo with the guy leaning in the doorway.
Cathi
Bonnie Blackman Baron
3 Jan 2017I would never have left St John’s Church!
I could feel and smell this place, because of your photos. Honestly, I gasped at the beauty. Now I have to go look at them again. Happy New Year
Richard Jewell
3 Jan 2017Chris was that you or Jeannie in the para sail? Great pictures!
Chris
3 Jan 2017LOL, that was obviously Jeannie, I was making the photos. 8^)
Alice Mathias
2 Jan 2017Thanks!