10 Secrets about Bergen

10 SECRETS about Bergen

Get to know some of the many secrets hiding in the historic centre of Bergen.

1 - THE LION

In the 19th century the Lion was the city’s point zero, and all distances in the city where measured from this point.

Photo: Martine Haugen

A girl named Dyveke lived in Hollendergaten 10, and was the mistress of the danish Christian II, who at the time was king of both Danmark, Sweden and Norway. She remained his mistress until she died in 1517. Hollendergaten 10 has been associated with her and the king because of the plinth next to the entrance. The plinth is decorated with a lion in relieff, and the gold lion is also the coat of arms in Norway. In the 19th century the Lion was the city’s point zero, and all distances in the city where measured from this point.

2 - A FAKE WINDOW

The old town hall in Bergen is hiding a secret on the second floor.

Photo: Martine Haugen

The old town hall in Bergen is hiding a secret on the second floor. At first glance it looks like there are three windows on the short side, but that's not true. There are only two windows, as the window in the center is painted on. This is because the town hall was made in a time when glass was expensive.

3 - MORE FALSE WINDOWS

The whole wall on one side of Hotel Park Pension is painted on.

Photo: Martine Haugen

The whole wall on one side of Hotel Park Pension is painted on. The whole fasade on that side is false, but the windows and the detailing are identical to the other side of the building that's facing the street.

4 - SWASTIKAS

The pattern on this balcony look suspiciously like swastikas.

Photo: Martine Haugen

The pattern on this balcony look suspiciously like swastikas, the symbol associated with the German occupation of Norway between 1940 and 1945. The yellow building in Christian Michelsens street also lies straight across from what used to be Gestapo's main quarter in Bergen. However, this building has nothing to do with this as it was drawn by architect Torgeir Alvsaker, and built in 1927. The pattern is also facing the other way, and the ends are bent to the left.

5 - GESTAPO’S HOUSE

The prison cells on the fourth floor has hardly changed since the war, and you can still see names on the walls that the prisoners had carved in.

Photo: Martine Haugen

This building lies in the middle of Bergen, in the street Veiten 3. Before the building was finished, it was taken over by the Nazis in 1940. German security police (SIPO) and GESTAPO (Geheime Staatspolizei) used the fourth and fifth floor. Fearing an allied invasion in the West of Norway, many people in the region were brought in for questioning and tortured, in an attempt to get information. Between 800 and 900 Norwegians were taken in for violent questioning during the war. The building was named Gestapohuset (Gestapo’s house) by the locals.

Many prisoners died as a result of the torture, and many took their own lives. Others were marked for life. The prison cells on the fourth floor has hardly changed since the war, and you can still see names on the walls that the prisoners had carved in.

6 - THE BROTHEL

One of the most known brothels in Bergen was Steinkjelleren (the stone cellar), first mentioned in 1455. It was located in the street Steinkjellergaten 8-10, where the cellar wasunder house number 10. The house exists to this day.

Photo by Martine Haugen

In the old days, prostitution was widespread in Bergen. One of the most known brothels was Steinkjelleren (the stone cellar). It was located in the street Steinkjellergaten 8-10, where the cellar was under house number 10. It was mentioned as a tavern and brothel in 1455.

The cellar housed a tavern for several centuries, and it was used a lot by German merchants as it lied a short distance from the wharf. The coffee factory Friele A/S existed there between 1800-1882. The house exists to this day. Source: Bergen byleksikon

7 - PLAY “HOPSCOTCH”

The Hopscotch in Hans Hauges Vei 23.

Photo by Martine Haugen

You can find this game in the street Hans Hauges Vei 23. Wikholm Anleggsgartnermester (a master gardener company) explains that they made it between 1991 and 1992.

8 - THE CANNONBALL

Cannonball embedded in the wall of Bergen Cathedral, from the battle between the English and the Dutch navy in 1665.

Photo: Nina Aldin Thune, Wikimedia Commons

In 1665, a battle took place in Vågen between the English and Dutch navy. According to history, a cannonball from the battle was embedded in the wall of the tower of Bergen Cathedral. Recent examination of the cannonball shows that it has probably not been in the wall all this time.

– When I, accompanied by an archaeologist, examined the famous cannonball we noticed that it was dug a small pit in the soapstone masonry, and that the cannonball was attached into the pit using mortar. We can’t tell when this was done, but it may very well be that the cannonball stems from the battle of Vågen in 1665, and that it was later placed into the wall, says geologist Øystein James Jansen.

9 - THE QUESTION MARK

The question mark in Christies gate

Photo by Martine Haugen

A manhole cover lies in the street Christies Gate, close to the furniture store Slettvoll. Right next to it there is a question mark made of stone. byLIV has talked to several craftsmen laying cobblestone, but no one knows how it got there. Therefore, it remains a mystery. But it continues to spread joy and wonder among the locals.

10 - THE DRAGON

The Dragon with the green head in Markesmauet.

Photo by Martine Haugen

In a street called Markesmauet hides a dragon with a green head. Sparebanken Vest (a bank in Norway) explains that it was put up as part of a decoration project in the 80’s, together with a yellow slide. The target group for the project was children and young people.