A visit to Bryggens Museum offers a fascinating introduction to Bergen’s UNESCO-listed heritage and the rich history hidden beneath the city’s streets.
Step into the world of Medieval Bergen at Bryggens Museum, where thousands of archaeological finds bring the city’s past to life. Through artefacts, original building remains, and the latest historical and archaeological research, visitors gain a unique insight into everyday life in Bergen and Western Norway nearly a thousand years ago.
Discover the world’s largest collection of rune sticks, featuring messages about love, friendship, trade, gossip, prayers, and even magical spells. Explore ceramics and imported goods from across Europe and the Middle East, revealing Bergen’s role as an important international trading hub during the Middle Ages.
The museum also displays the remarkable Guddal garment, one of the very few relatively intact pieces of medieval clothing preserved in Norway. Dating back almost a thousand years, it offers a rare glimpse into the clothing and craftsmanship of the period.
Bryggens Museum stands on the site of one of the most important archaeological discoveries in Northern Europe. After a devastating fire destroyed parts of Bryggen in 1955, a thirteen-year excavation uncovered hundreds of thousands of objects hidden beneath the city streets. These finds transformed our understanding of medieval Bergen and form the heart of the museum’s collection today.
Built directly above the remains of Bergen’s oldest known buildings from the first half of the 12th century, the museum allows visitors to experience the original foundations of the medieval city. Together with the artefacts from the excavations, these preserved structures create an immersive journey into the daily lives, trade, and culture of the people who lived and worked at Bryggen.
Temporary Exhibition: Tales in Thread
For the first time ever, the complete Åsmund Frægdagjeva tapestry series is on display at Bryggens Museum. Created by Norwegian textile artist Ragna Breivik, the ten magnificent tapestries were woven over a period of more than 25 years and are inspired by the medieval ballad of Åsmund Frægdagjeva, who rescues Princess Ermelin from the trolls of Trollebotn.
Parts of the series have previously been exhibited at renowned institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Iowa. Now, visitors have a rare opportunity to experience these remarkable works of textile art in the unique medieval surroundings of Bryggen.
Combining traditional craftsmanship, storytelling, and Norse cultural heritage, Tales in Thread offers an unforgettable encounter with one of Norway’s most ambitious textile art projects.
