The town of Bergen was founded in 1070. It was situated at the junction of important sea routes and was the largest and most important town of Norway in the Middle Ages. On the north side of the harbour bay Vågen, at Holmen, was situated the medieval royal residence with its grand hall ‘Håkonshallen’, as well as the medieval Cathedral of Bergen. The houses of the burghers were situated at Bryggen and formed a long row of wooden buildings along the northern front of Vågen. Trade was carried on at Bryggen with goods brought from all over Europe, and the office of the Hanseatic League was also located there.
