Bergenhus Fortress

You are now on the Fortress Trail at Bergenhus Fortress where some of the items are labelled with a QR code. The Fortress Trail map is available in the reception of Håkon’s Hall. Enjoy your walk!

Bergenhus Fortress is managed by Norwegian Defence Estates Agency National Fortification Heritage.

The Rosenkrantz Tower

Historisk steinbygning med grønn kuppel og buede vinduer, omgitt av trær og klar blå himmel.

The Rosenkrantz Tower is located on the Parade Ground.

The tower is open to visitors throughout the summer season. Via narrow stairs you can climb up onto the roof, where there is a stunning view of the harbour and city. In the cellar there is the infamous dungeon, which was probably in use from the late 15th century until well into the 19th century.

The tower is managed by the Norwegian Directorate of Public Construction and Property and by the Bergen City Museum, which offers guided tours.

Royal residence

The Rosenkrantz Tower was built by King Magnus Lagabøte around 1270 and was used as a royal residence until 1299. The oldest parts of the tower formed the main tower of the castle that was here on the site. The tower was modified and extended several times from the Middle Ages up until the present day.

It was named after the feudal overlord Erik Rosenkrantz

In the 1560s the feudal overlord Erik Rosenkrantz built a further three floors, giving the tower pretty much its current form. The tower was then both a residence and fortress The Rosenkrantz coat of arms adorn the façade facing the quay. The tower was important as a position marker for the Hanseatic traders.

Major damage

During the explosion in the harbour in 1944, the tower received major damage. The restoration after the war focused on presenting the elements dating from the 1560s. The tower is therefore considered to be a masterpiece from the Renaissance Period in Norway.

The courtyard and buildings

Historisk steinbygning med gavltak og buede vinduer, omgitt av moderne bygninger, trær og grøntområder, med en havn i bakgrunnen på en overskyet dag.

The courtyard is surrounded by three historical buildings: Håkon's Hall and stables, the residence of the Captain Commander of the Watch and the Commandant's Residence.

Håkon's Hall

This large stone hall is the largest non-ecclesiastical stone building in Norway dating from the Middle Ages.

The hall was built between 1247 - 1261 by King Haakon Håkonsson, hence the name Håkon's Hall During the Middle Ages it was the residence of the royal family, with the great hall on the top floor.

Håkon's Hall has over the centuries had many functions; including as a barracks for soldiers, granary and slavery (prison). The hall was restored for the first time in the late 19th century.

Today

The hall was severely damaged during an explosion in the harbour in 1944, but was restored and reopened in 1961.

Since then Håkon's Hall has been used as an entertainment space, a concert hall and museum. Håkon's Hall is managed by the Norwegian Directorate of Public Construction and Property and by the Bergen City Museum, which offers guided tours.

The stables

This building was converted from two smaller buildings in 1730 and used as a stables, hence the name. Later the building has had several functions, but after the explosion and restoration following the Second World War it was reconverted to become the public entrance to Håkon's Hall.

The residence of the Captain Commander of the Watch

The building to the south is the residence of the Captain Commander of the Watch, which was built in 1714. The Captain Commander of the Watch was second in command of the fortress. During the summer season, it is home to a café run by the City Museum.

The Commandant's residence

The building closest to the harbour is the Commandant's residence, built in 1725. This is where the commandant and his family lived.

Through their background, education and position, the commandants tended to be well-bred and persons of culture. As well as their officer training, they had been educated in drawing, painting, dance and music. The commandants often introduced new manners and standards to the local communities in which they were posted. They were often also prominent figures in social circles.

The National Fortifications Heritage of the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency now has offices in the Commandant's residence.

The Second Stone Hall

Utendørsområde med steinruiner og gressplen ved siden av en stor steinbygning, med to personer som går på stien. I bakgrunnen er det en havn med et stort skip og bygninger langs vannkanten på en solrik dag.

Here lie the ruins of a stone building that is known as The Second Stone Hall.

The stone hall was probably erected towards the end of the 13th century, after Håkon's Hall was completed in 1261. The two buildings formed an inner courtyard that may have been the inner core of the defensive fortifications. We do not know exactly what the other stone hall was used for, perhaps for assembling troops.

Three rooms

Bergenhus as a cultural monument

The latter half of the 19th century saw an awakening of the awareness of the cultural values represented by Bergenhus. This was followed by restoration work and archaeological digs with the aim of surveying the medieval royal residence, and the remains of the large Church of Christ.

Other than Bergenhus, none of the country's fortresses have been the subject of thorough archaeological research. The work was led primarily by Gerhard Fischer. He also led the rebuilding of Bergenhus following the explosion in 1944.

Visible remains of old walls

The ruins og Håkon's Hall, 1973. From the archives of Directorate for Cultural Heritage.

When you walk round the area you will see visible remains of former buildings:

The second stone hall on the west side of Håkon's Hall.
"The King's solar" and "The Roundel". On the east side of Håkon's Hall at the same location can be found the remains of a facility referred to as "The King's solar" - an annex to Håkon's Hall, and "The Roundel", which is a fortification from 1606.
The remains of the Hakon Håkonssøn curtain wall. Located north of the second stone hall.
The large Church of Christ. The outline of the church is marked by a hedge, and a memorial with a relief of St. Sunniva shows where the altar once was.

The Church of Christ

Velstelt hage med pent trimmede hekker og trær, steinvei som går gjennom hagen mot en bygning i bakgrunnen, med fjell synlige i det fjerne på en overskyet dag.

The site of the Church of Christ.

This is where the Church of Christ once stood - Bergen's cathedral in the Middle Ages. King Olav Kyrre, founder of Bergen, built the church during the period 1066-1093.

The outline of the church is marked with a hedge, while the nave and the high altar are marked by stone slabs.

The St. Sunniva statue shows where the altar once was.

Political centre

In the 13th century the medieval name for Bergenhus was Holmen, Norway's political centre.

The Christ Church was used for negotiations, and the churchyard was often used for assemblies and for national meetings. The shrine containing the mortal remains of St. Sunniva, patron saint of Bergen, was located in the church. Two queens and five Norwegian kings were crowned and four kings were buried in the church.

Demolished in 1531 - few traces of the church

In 1531 the church was razed to the ground by Captain Eske Bille, because it was felt that the church was an obstacle to the protection of the castle. So thorough a job was made of this that archaeologists have only found a few traces of the church.

The artillery building

The small artillery building that you can see is probably was probably built in 1834 as market building (shop), and later used as a guardhouse/prison. Both were important functions related to the fortress.

Like several of the other buildings in the fortress, the artillery building was considerably damaged in the big explosion accident in 1944. The building was restored after the war.

The couple Tulla and Gerhard Fischer lived and worked in the artillery building in connection with the extensive archaeological research and restoration work at Bergenhus after WWII.

Cannons on the Northern Point

Rekke med gamle kanoner på en gressvoll med utsikt over en vannkropp, montert på svarte metallstativer med røde baser, med trær og bygninger i bakgrunnen på en overskyet dag.

Seven guns in a line

Between the western exit gate to the south and the fortress flagpole on the Northern Point Bastion to the north, there are seven old cannons lined up facing the entrance to Bergen harbour.

Not to fight - but to salute

During the flag change at the end of the union with Sweden in 1905, they were were used - not for defence, but to salute. The guns are also used today for saluting.

Bergenhus has been at war only once

The only time Bergenhus Fortress has been at war was during the Anglo-Dutch War in 1665, when a battle was fought between an English and a Dutch fleet off Bergen.

The garrison at Bergenhus went on the defensive when the English attacked. There is still a cannonball lodged in the wall of Bergen Cathedral from this battle.

Statue of King Haakon 7th

The Carpenter's Shed

Moderne, godt opplyst rom med tregulv og synlige trebjelker i taket, runde lysarmaturer, høye bord og krakker, en liten scene med mikrofonstativ og høyttalere, vinduer som slipper inn naturlig lys, og en barområde med to personer som jobber bak disken.

From carpenter's shed to unique function room

The carpenter's shed was built by the Germans during the war. After the war, the building has had various functions as a carpentry workshop and offices.

In 2014/15 the building was completely renovated in cooperation with Bergen Live, and is now used for functions.

Venue development

Bergenhus is managed by The National Fortifications Heritage of the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency An important social mission for facilitating new uses and development in cooperation with external actors.

The redevelepoment of the Carpenter's Shed is a good example of venue development with local added value. The current business attracts new audiences to the fortress grounds, ensuring income from a long term perspective and giving new life to historical ground.

Northern exit gate

Steinbuegang med gresskledd topp i et parkområde med trær og grøntområder.

You are now at the Northern Gate.

The exit gate was built in the early 19th century and was a new exit gate for the fortress. The gate was built as part of a plan for improvement and reconstruction of the fortress.

Construction of the exit gate meant that Sverresborg was separated from the main fortress and a new fortified wall with a height of 10 feet was established.

Fredrik 7th's monogram

The exit gate is built with stone arches through the fortress wall. On the last stone that was used, the monogram of King Frederick 7th was engraved together with the date 1812. You can see the monogram above the gate on the outside of the wall.

Shelters built by the Germans

On either side of the entrance hall there are underground concrete shelters inside the wall. The shelters were built by the Germans during the Second World War. You can see the doors to the shelters.

The bunker

Stor rektangulær bygning dekket av grønn eføy, med betongbase og sirkulære mønstre på nedre del av veggen, omgitt av asfaltert sti og grønt gress med trær i bakgrunnen.

Communications bunker for the Germans

This large bunker hidden behind green ivy, was built as a communications bunker by the Germans following the big explosion accident in the harbour in 1944 (see info below). The telephone exchange was previously partly in the stable building and in the basement of Rosenkrantz Tower, but was destroyed during the explosion.

The workforce was 200 Soviet prisoners of war. The bunker was built from heavily reinforced concrete in order to withstand air attacks.

Bergenhus was the headquarters for the German navy during World War Two

During the war years from 1940 to 1945, Bergenhus was the local headquarters for the German navy. The Germans took over the entire area, apart from Håkon's Hall.

In addition to this large bunker, some barracks and positions were also built in the area. The old buildings were allowed to stand.

Explosion in the harbour in 1944

Bergenhus would be hard hit by the biggest single disaster in Norway during the war.

The Dutch trawler "Voorbode" in German service, was loaded with 120 tons of explosives when it caught fire at the fortress pier (just below the Commandants Residence) on April 20th, 1944.

Enormous damage to buildings and people

Not only the fortress area, but also houses elsewhere in the city received enormous damage when the cargo exploded.

The shock wave from the detonation lifted roofs of houses, pushed façades out of position and blew out thousands of windows. Nearly 100 people died and thousands were wounded.

Red hot parts of the ship were flung outwards and caused fires. The explosion also triggered a tsunami that threw boats up on the dock and caused houses to cave in.

The Håkon's Hall og the stables were partially destroyed during the explosion.

Commandant's Garden

Liten steintrapp som fører opp til et gressområde med trær og busker, med flere trær og bygninger delvis skjult av løvverk i bakgrunnen, og et fjell synlig i det fjerne på høyre side under en klar himmel.

The Commandant's Garden - ornamental and useful.

The commandant's garden was probably established as early as the 16th century, while the reconstruction of the garden appears on a city map from the 1780s. The garden is small and simple, and built on the model of the famous gardens of Renaissance Europe.

Ornamental and useful

The gardens have a long tradition here at Bergenhus. During the Middle Ages there were king's "gardens or "grassy fields" in the area. They probably had cultivated berry bushes, fruit trees, some vegetables and some ornamental plants.

Important to be self-sufficient

At Bergenhus, as well as the other fortresses, it was important to have supplies of food and water in case of being besieged by an enemy. Håkon's Hall was used as a granary from the 17th century until the mid 19th century. The fortress had its own well and large fish ponds, both for freshwater fish and saltwater fish. In addition, fruit, berries and vegetables were grown in gardens surrounding the fortress grounds.

Jorgen Hansson curtain wall

Historisk steinfestning med flere bygninger og tårn, bratte mørke tak, omgitt av en stor åpen gårdsplass hvor folk går og sykler, under en klar blå himmel på en solrik dag.

From royal estate to fortress

The curtain wall is named after Jørgen Hanssøn, who was the feudal overlord of Bergenhus from 1514 to 1523.

A curtain wall is the outer defence system at a medieval castle. It was Jørgen Hanssøn who built the curtain wall, and who implemented several initiatives to transform the King's palace into a modern fortress.

It was during his period that the King's palace was renamed Bergenhus, where the last part "hus" means "fortified castle".

Transitional period in military technology

Jorgen Hanssøn was the feudal lord of Bergenhus during a transitional period in military technology.

Towards the end of the 15th century the smooth bore cannon, loaded with black powder and iron sphere, become such an effective weapon that medieval masonry could no longer provide adequate protection. Jorgen Hanssøn therefore implemented several initiatives to convert the king's palace into a modern fortress.

He made the castle area smaller and built a new, shorter wall from the barbican (main gate), to Håkon's Hall around the year 1520. The wall replaced parts of the medieval fortifications, and thus has subsequently been known as Jorgen Hansson's curtain wall.

Do you see the curtain wall framing the inner part of the fortress?

A full modernisation of the castle did not take place until the 1640s.

Bergenhus Fortress Museum

Moderne bygning med flatt tak og lys grå farge, med inngang med glassdører og vinduer, norsk flagg ved inngangen, og et stort rødt banner som leser 'Bergenhus Festningsmuseum'.

The museum is housed in the magazine building at Koengen, and was opened by war veteran Gunnar Sønsteby in 2006.

The museum has both permanent and thematic exhibitions. Guided tours, films and lectures can be arranged for groups and school classes. A small library is also available.

Free admission for all.

Sverresborg

Sverresborg sits on the hill above the fortress grounds

Sverresborg was the oldest fortification at Holmen, and was built as early as the Middle Ages. In the 1100s the royal residence at Holmen was unfortified and vulnerable to attack, and so King Sverre established a castle on the hill around 1180 AD.

This was one of the first two stone castles in Norway, the other was Sverresborg in Trondheim.

Scene of several battles

Sverresborg was the scene of several battles during the civil war in the Middle Ages. The construction was reinforced by King Haakon Håkonsson around 1250.

Building Remains from the late 12th century

There have been no archaeological investigations at Sverresborg, and much of the ground has been changed over the years. We know, however, that remains of buildings have been found that may date from the oldest castle at the end of the 12th century.

The present state of the castle may contain traces of the city's rich history, but the current masonry is probably from the 17th century.

The engineer's residence

Immediately below Sverresborg is the engineer's residence built in 1857. The engineer was responsible for ensuring that the fortifications and buildings were in good condition.

The barracks

The big yellow barracks building below Sverresborg was built as a NCO school. During the Second World War the building sustained considerable damage and was rebuilt in a simplified form.

Koengen

Stor utendørskonsert med et massivt publikum foran en scene, utstyrt med store skjermer og artister, med bygninger og en skogkledd åsside i bakgrunnen.

From marshland to unique concert venue

The large square is Koengen - a unique concert venue at Bergenhus Fortress.

Major international artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Rihanna, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan have played here for several thousand wild fans. The location in historical surroundings right at the centre of Bergen city provides a unique setting for concerts.

One of the missions of The National Fortifications Heritage of the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency is to facilitate new use, and make the fortress accessible to the general public. Facilitating cultural events is in line with this.

Marsh - wetland - buffer zone - workshop area

The area has undergone major changes throughout history. From being wetlands in the Middle Ages it became the grazing area, hence the name Koengen (cow pasture). Later it became the buffer zone for the fortress with moat and fish ponds.

From the late 16th century until the early 19th century there was a continuous fortified wall across Koengen that bound together Holmen and Sverresborg within one fortification.

Subsequently, the area was used as workshop area with amongst other things a stone mason's yard later in the 20th century new military buildings were built.