It may look like a Disneyland attraction circa 1955, but it has historical value in showing…read moreBergen's former glory as the salted cod trading center of Europe. The Norwegians brought the cod to the port and the Germans would buy it to sell to the rest of the continent. Think of Bryggen as a really old Fisherman's Wharf. Besides, the facade of the colorful plankboard buildings makes it the ideal subject of refrigerator magnets (photo: https://bit.ly/3zRYuH7). Sure, it's picturesque because it's always the opening shot of any travel video about Bergen.
But as usual, what lies beneath is what fascinates as the narrow alleyways between the leaning warehouses houses interesting shops, art galleries, and museums. Apparently it's been rebuilt several times over the centuries due to fires and such, so it's like an HGTV program on a constant loop. I also noticed otherwise normal housewives turn into cheek-sucking fashion models posing against the aged planks for their Instagram moments. Jamie W. and I tried to emulate their approach, but we didn't starve ourselves enough to look waif-like. More whale-like.
RELATED - Exploring Norway? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3PEL4Fe