Strandgaten, Bergen
Encyclopedia
Strandgaten is a street in the city centre of Bergen
, Norway
, west of the bay of Vågen
. It starts at Torgallmenningen and follows the eastern shore of the Nordnes
peninsula to Tidemands gate, where it becomes Nordnesgaten. The easternmost quarter of Strandgaten is a regular two-way street, while it is an eastbound one-way street between Tollbodallmenningen and Holbergsallmenningen, and between Østre Murallmenningen and Torgallmenningen
. Between Holbergsallmenningen and Østre Murallmenningen the street is pedestrianised. In total, Strandgaten is approximately 1.2 km long.
The street was officially named "Strandgaten" in 1857, although it had gone by that name for a very long time prior to this. During the 12th century, the area around the eastern part of Strandgaten changed from a rural area dominated by Munkeliv Abbey
and St. John's Priory
, to a centre for trade of goods. After one of the many great fires that throughout the centuries have ravaged Bergen destroyed the easternmost part of Strandgaten in 1561, Erik Rosenkrantz, governor of Bergenhus len
, ordered the creation of a broad street (an "allmenning") which would prevent future fires from spreading. Torgallmenningen (formerly Vågsallmenningen), Vetrlidsallmenningen, Korskirkeallmenningen, and many other streets in the old part of Bergen were created for the same reason. The street, formerly known as "Rosenkrantz' allmenning", is now known as "Murallmenningen". The origin of the name is the personal residence of Rosenkrantz, which he built there shortly after the fire. This building, known as "Muren" or "Murhvelvingen", has been used for a number of different purposes throughout history, and is currently home to the Buekorps Museum
.
The area between Torgallmenningen and Østre Murallmenningen was destroyed in the great fire of 1916. The reconstruction plans included a new street layout, which better conformed to the ideals of the era, rather than those of 1756, when the area had last burned. The streets were straightened and widened. Strandgaten was no exception; its eastern end was moved southwards, while its western end was moved northwards. Smørsallmenningen, a street which had intersected Strandgaten, was removed.
The Jewish community in Bergen consisted of around 60 persons in the years before World War II
, who in total owned six retail stores in Strandgaten. Because of the deportation of the Jews only one store remained after the war, and with new owners. During the war, British bombers destroyed many of the wooden houses on Nordnes. On 20 April 1944, the German steam trawler Voorbode
, loaded with dynamite, exploded in Vågen, and destroyed the area around Tollboden and Nykirken
, as well as a large number of houses in the surrounding neighbourhoods and on the other side of the bay.
The war was followed by a period of reconstruction and re-purposing. There were plans to tear down several of the old neighbourhoods in central Bergen, including Marken and most of the neighbourhoods on the Nordnes peninsula, including Strandgaten west of Østre Murallmenningen. The plans were abandoned by the city government in 1974. However, the north-eastern part of the Nordnes peninsula, including about half of Strandgaten, which had been the most damaged during World War II, was cleared out and the ruins and remaining buildings were replaced with large apartment buildings. The stretch of Strandgaten between Murallmenningen and Hobergsallmenningen, was spared. It was pedestrianised in 1971, and is now known as "Gågaten", literally "the walking street".
buildings, e.g. Strandgaten 20. Many important Bergen architects designed buildings in this part of Strandgaten, including Einar Oscar Schou
, who had also designed Den Nationale Scene
, Finn Berner (the building on the corner with Torgallmenningen
, which was his design), Fredrik Arnesen and Arthur Darre Kaarbø, Sigurd Lunde
, Ingolf Danielsen, Leif Grung
, and Per Grieg.
The pedestrianised section has mainly smaller buildings with 2-4 floors, built before the 20th century. Significant buildings include Strandgaten 59, the former building of Sundt & Co, today located at Torgallmenningenn, and Tetingsalen (Strandgaten 53), a former brewery
, public house
, concert hall, theatre
, and today retail store. The western half of Strandgaten, west of Holbergsallmenningen, was rebuilt after World War II. The church of Nykirken is located here, one of the few buildings on the north-eastern shore of the Nordnes peninsula to have been preserved. The home of Edvard Grieg
's family, where he grew up, was located in this part of Strandgaten, but it was destroyed when the steam trawler Voorbode exploded in 1944. The ruins of Ludvig Holberg
's childhood home were, too, located by Strandgaten, until they were removed in 1985. Near the northern end of the street are the main offices of the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries
.
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, west of the bay of Vågen
Vågen, Bergen
Vågen is a bay in the city centre of Bergen, Norway. It is the central harbour of the city centre, and is the center of the historical core of the city, which originated on the east shore of the bay. From there, it expanded to the southern and western shores over a few centuries.-References:...
. It starts at Torgallmenningen and follows the eastern shore of the Nordnes
Nordnes
Nordnes is a peninsula and neighbourhood in the city centre of Bergen, Norway. Bergen Aquarium is located at the tip of the peninsula. The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research and Fredriksberg Fortress are also located on Nordnes....
peninsula to Tidemands gate, where it becomes Nordnesgaten. The easternmost quarter of Strandgaten is a regular two-way street, while it is an eastbound one-way street between Tollbodallmenningen and Holbergsallmenningen, and between Østre Murallmenningen and Torgallmenningen
Torgallmenningen
Torgallmenningen, Torgalmenningen, or Torvallmenningen, is the main square of Bergen, Norway.-External links:* positioned on Bergens Tidende's main building...
. Between Holbergsallmenningen and Østre Murallmenningen the street is pedestrianised. In total, Strandgaten is approximately 1.2 km long.
History
Munkeliv Abbey
Munkeliv Abbey was a Benedictine abbey located at Nordnes in Bergen, Norway. It was one of the oldest monasteries in Norway, and also one of the wealthiest and best-documented.-History:...
and St. John's Priory
St. John's Priory, Bergen
St. John's Priory, Bergen was a house of Augustinian Canons located in Bergen, Norway.-History:St. John's Priory, about which there is not a great deal of recorded information, was situated in the vicinity of the present Strandgaten/Tårnplass in Bergen...
, to a centre for trade of goods. After one of the many great fires that throughout the centuries have ravaged Bergen destroyed the easternmost part of Strandgaten in 1561, Erik Rosenkrantz, governor of Bergenhus len
Bergenhus len
Bergenhus len was a Norwegian administrative division. The "len" was administered from Bergenhus Fortress in Bergen.Formerly the term len in Norway signified an administrative region roughly equivalent to today's counties. The historic len was an important administrative entity during the period...
, ordered the creation of a broad street (an "allmenning") which would prevent future fires from spreading. Torgallmenningen (formerly Vågsallmenningen), Vetrlidsallmenningen, Korskirkeallmenningen, and many other streets in the old part of Bergen were created for the same reason. The street, formerly known as "Rosenkrantz' allmenning", is now known as "Murallmenningen". The origin of the name is the personal residence of Rosenkrantz, which he built there shortly after the fire. This building, known as "Muren" or "Murhvelvingen", has been used for a number of different purposes throughout history, and is currently home to the Buekorps Museum
Buekorps Museum
The Buekorps Museum is a museum in Bergen, Norway dedicated to buekorps, which are traditional marching neighborhood youth organizations.The Buekorps Museum is located in Muren, or Murhvelvingen, at Østre Muralmenning. The building was constructed by Erik Rosenkrantz after a great fire disasters in...
.
The area between Torgallmenningen and Østre Murallmenningen was destroyed in the great fire of 1916. The reconstruction plans included a new street layout, which better conformed to the ideals of the era, rather than those of 1756, when the area had last burned. The streets were straightened and widened. Strandgaten was no exception; its eastern end was moved southwards, while its western end was moved northwards. Smørsallmenningen, a street which had intersected Strandgaten, was removed.
The Jewish community in Bergen consisted of around 60 persons in the years before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, who in total owned six retail stores in Strandgaten. Because of the deportation of the Jews only one store remained after the war, and with new owners. During the war, British bombers destroyed many of the wooden houses on Nordnes. On 20 April 1944, the German steam trawler Voorbode
Voorbode
The Dutch steam trawler Voorbode was a fishing vessel, until it was confiscated by the Germans during World War II and used for military transport. In April 1944, it was on its way from Oslo to Kirkenes when it faced mechanical problems, forcing it to seek repair in Bergen...
, loaded with dynamite, exploded in Vågen, and destroyed the area around Tollboden and Nykirken
Nykirken
Nykirken is a cruciform church located in Bergen, Norway. It is located at Nykirkeallmenningen between Strandgaten and Vågen...
, as well as a large number of houses in the surrounding neighbourhoods and on the other side of the bay.
The war was followed by a period of reconstruction and re-purposing. There were plans to tear down several of the old neighbourhoods in central Bergen, including Marken and most of the neighbourhoods on the Nordnes peninsula, including Strandgaten west of Østre Murallmenningen. The plans were abandoned by the city government in 1974. However, the north-eastern part of the Nordnes peninsula, including about half of Strandgaten, which had been the most damaged during World War II, was cleared out and the ruins and remaining buildings were replaced with large apartment buildings. The stretch of Strandgaten between Murallmenningen and Hobergsallmenningen, was spared. It was pedestrianised in 1971, and is now known as "Gågaten", literally "the walking street".
Buildings
The easternmost part of Strandgaten was completely destroyed in the fire of 1916. Before the fire most of the area's buildings were small, with two or three floors. The post-fire buildings, constructed between 1919 and 1939, were large commercial buildings with upwards of 6 floors. Many different architectural styles are represented among the buildings in this part of Strandgaten, ranging from the Neo-baroque Svaneapoteket (Strandgaten 6 and 8), which, having been finished in 1920, was the first building constructed after the fire, to functionalistFunctionalism (architecture)
Functionalism, in architecture, is the principle that architects should design a building based on the purpose of that building. This statement is less self-evident than it first appears, and is a matter of confusion and controversy within the profession, particularly in regard to modern...
buildings, e.g. Strandgaten 20. Many important Bergen architects designed buildings in this part of Strandgaten, including Einar Oscar Schou
Einar Oscar Schou
Einar Oscar Schou was a Norwegian architect. He is most noted for his design of Den Nationale Scene in Bergen, Norway.-Background:...
, who had also designed Den Nationale Scene
Den Nationale Scene
Den Nationale Scene is the largest theatre in Bergen, Norway. Den Nationale Scene is also one of the oldest permanent theatre in Norway.-History:...
, Finn Berner (the building on the corner with Torgallmenningen
Torgallmenningen
Torgallmenningen, Torgalmenningen, or Torvallmenningen, is the main square of Bergen, Norway.-External links:* positioned on Bergens Tidende's main building...
, which was his design), Fredrik Arnesen and Arthur Darre Kaarbø, Sigurd Lunde
Sigurd Lunde (architect)
Sigurd Lunde was a Norwegian architect.He was born in Bergen, and took his education in Berlin. When moving back to Norway, he lived in Ålesund for a while to participate in the rebuilding after the 1904 fire. From 1906 he had his own architect's office in Bergen...
, Ingolf Danielsen, Leif Grung
Leif Grung
Leif Kuhnle Grung was a Norwegian architect. He was among the leading architects in Bergen during the 1920s and 1930's.- Background :...
, and Per Grieg.
The pedestrianised section has mainly smaller buildings with 2-4 floors, built before the 20th century. Significant buildings include Strandgaten 59, the former building of Sundt & Co, today located at Torgallmenningenn, and Tetingsalen (Strandgaten 53), a former brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
, public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, concert hall, theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
, and today retail store. The western half of Strandgaten, west of Holbergsallmenningen, was rebuilt after World War II. The church of Nykirken is located here, one of the few buildings on the north-eastern shore of the Nordnes peninsula to have been preserved. The home of Edvard Grieg
Edvard Grieg
Edvard Hagerup Grieg was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is best known for his Piano Concerto in A minor, for his incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt , and for his collection of piano miniatures Lyric Pieces.-Biography:Edvard Hagerup Grieg was born in...
's family, where he grew up, was located in this part of Strandgaten, but it was destroyed when the steam trawler Voorbode exploded in 1944. The ruins of Ludvig Holberg
Ludvig Holberg
Ludvig Holberg, Baron of Holberg was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright born in Bergen, Norway, during the time of the Dano-Norwegian double monarchy, who spent most of his adult life in Denmark. He was influenced by Humanism, the Enlightenment and the Baroque...
's childhood home were, too, located by Strandgaten, until they were removed in 1985. Near the northern end of the street are the main offices of the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries
Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries
The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries is Norwegian government agency under the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs.Established in 1900, it is responsible for advising and executing the ministry's policy. It formerly conducted research, but the Institute of Marine Research was split out in...
.