"Bergen - A city on the fjords" a Bergen Travel Page by tpk2

Bergen is right after the capital Oslo the second biggest city in Norway. Its population is around 250,000 inhabitants. The town is situated in the county of Hordaland on the west coast. Bergen is the home of the biggest port in the country, handling more than 50 per cent of the total cargo going in and out of Norway.

Bergen was officially established around the year 1070 when Olav Kyrre granted municipal status to Bjørgvin a port settlement on the east side of the modern Bergen. By 1240 Bergen replaced Trondheim as the capital of Norway. The rise of prosperity started on 13th and 14th century when the Hanseatic League started permanent trading in the town. The League dominated the trading until the 18th century.