Bryggen

Bryggen, also known as Tyskebryggen (the German Wharf), is the historic harbor district of Bergen, Norway. Located along the eastern shore of Vågen, Bryggen forms a continuous row of wooden warehouses and merchants’ houses set on piling wharves. It is part of Bergen’s old town and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 for its evidence of centuries of Hanseatic commerce in Northern Europe.

From the 14th century, German Hanseatic merchants established a trading post in Bergen, and Bryggen grew as their commercial heart. The quarter housed offices, storage facilities, and homes, exchanging cod, dried fish, copper, and other goods. Fire repeatedly damaged the district, notably in 1702, after which much of the timber architecture was rebuilt.

Architecturally, Bryggen consists of about 60 wooden, timber-framed buildings with steep gabled façades along the harbor, many rebuilt after fires. The narrow lanes and shingled roofs preserve a medieval street plan, and the façades face the water, reflecting its historic function as a mercantile hub. Some buildings now host museums, shops, and eateries.

Today Bryggen is a major cultural and tourist site. It includes institutions such as the Hanseatic Museum and Bryggens Museum, and ongoing preservation efforts emphasize its role as a tangible reminder of Bergen's mercantile heritage within a Baltic trade network.