Bergen, city and seaport in southwestern Norway, located along inlets of the North Sea. It is the seat of Hordaland County. The second largest city of Norway (after Oslo), Bergen is a cultural, fishing, industrial, and shipping center. Manufactures include steel, ships, fishing equipment, processed food, forest products, and electrical machinery.
Situated in a valley near seven mountains, Bergen contains numerous historic buildings. Among the notable structures are Saint Mary's Church (12th century), the city's oldest building; Bergenhus fortress, including Håkon's Hall (1261; rebuilt since the 1940s); and several steep-roofed, wooden quayside houses dating from the early 1700s. Educational institutions in the city include the University of Bergen (1948), a school of economics and business administration (1936), and a music conservatory (1905).
