Bergen is the second largest city in Norway in the county of Hordaland, Norway. The oldest part of the city is on the north side of the bay of Vågen. Here you find Bryggen, a number of old, wooden houses from the early 18th century, the product of rebuilding after a fire in 1702, done in the style of the medieval buildings that stood on the site before the fire. Six houses (to the left, see picture) were rebuilt after a fire in 1955. The Saint Mary Church is the oldest building in Bergen, parts of it dating from around 1130. Two other churches, the Cathedral and the Korskirken church are also medieval, although modified later. The fortress of Bergenhus has a number of interesting buildings, notably the Haakon's Hall royal hall from the 1260s, and the Rosenkrantz Tower, built around a medieval fortification in the 1560s.
A popular tourist attraction is the open air fishmarket on the harbour. Further down you find the main shopping area, rebuilt after a fire in 1916 in art nouveau and functionalism, around the main square Torgalmenningen. Several old quarters of white, wooden houses are patched in and around the centre, notably in Nordnes, Marken and Sandviken. Nygårdshøyden is a quaint area with a large number of buildings from late 19th century, many with neoclassical facades. Some parts of Bergen have been rebuilt after WWII due to English bombing, an explosion accident and unthoughtful city planning. Whole blocks of ancient wooden houses are still regularly demolished in the city centre, most recently in Nøstet and Krinkelkroken. Strolling around in Bergen will generally reveal areas of very differing architecture.
Visitors should not miss the ride with the funicular up to Mount Fløyen, where one is rewarded with a splendid view over the city and the fabled seven mountains. From here, it's also possible to hike in a huge area of spectacular and largely untouched scenery. The aquarium with seals, penguins and fish from the area is also popular.