Bergenshus Castle (Bergen, Norway)

Bergenshus Castle (Bergen, Norway)

The castle complex, which was primarily a royal farm, was built on Holmen north of the pier with the long side facing Vågen. The location gave a good overview of the approach from the city fjord. Northeast of the castle is a mountain ridge where the former Sverresborg castle was built. Sverresborg and the facility at Holmen were separated by a marshy area.

Kongsgården in Bergen was laid out by Øystein Magnusson at the beginning of the 12th century. The original royal court had wooden buildings. Håkon Håkonsson built the facility in stone, and it was further developed by Magnus the Lawmender and Eirik Magnusson around 1290.

Eventually, the royal farm was expanded into a larger fortification and became Bergenhus around the year 1500. From the 1600s onwards, the facility was expanded and further developed.

Norway's orientation towards the islands in the west led to Bergen emerging as Norway's largest and most important city in the 13th century. Kongsgården on Holmen was the scene of important meetings and events such as the drafting of Magnus the Lawmender`s land law. The bishop's seat was also established at Holmen. This strengthened the area as a center of power and culture.

The Kalmar Union in the late Middle Ages meant that the political center of gravity in the country was moved eastwards, to Akershus and Tunsberghus. Bergenhus was therefore less often used as a royal residence. It nevertheless continued to be a center for military and civil administration for Western Norway and Northern Norway.

The last picture shows The Maria Church built in the 12th century. Later the church also went under the name The German church, as the German Hanseatic League on Bryggen (The Wharf) was obliged to belong to its congregation. St. Mary's Church has two west towers which were unique for the Norwegian Middle Ages, the nave is Romanesque and the choir Gothic.