Things to do in Western Norway, Norway: The Best History Museums

This wooden building is furnished in 18th-century style and gives visitors a feel of what Bergen was like in its medieval trading days. During a couple of years now, the City of Bergen is implementing a major restoration work. We tell you the Hanseatic story from Schøtstuene and Bryggen. Join us at Schøtstuene!

In the 1800s Bergen was Europe’s biggest wooden city, a distinctive city environment with closely spaced wooden buildings, busy streets, markets and alleys. At old Bergen open air Museum you can experience some of this atmosphere, with houses from the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries. What did it look like? What did people talk about? In beautiful natural surroundings you can meet both masters and servants from the past. Museumshop. 40 min walk, 15 min by bicycle, 7 min by bus.

Moelstertunet is a picturesque farmstead, with sixteen buildings surrounding an open farmyard. All of the buildings are still standing right where they were when the last family moved out in 1927. Walking through the farmstead will give you a unique insight in building traditions and living conditions in older times. The oldest building on the farmstead, an open-hearth log house, dates from the early 1500s. In the nearby exhibition hall a comprehensive exhibition will tell you more about how people lived and worked in Voss in older times. The museum also displays temporary exhibitions throughout the year. Voss folkemuseum has a huge collection of artifacts, folk art, tools and other objects. There is also a big archive, a small library, and one of the biggest museum collection of photos in Hordaland. From Moelster you have a wonderful view of Vossevangen and the Vangsvatnet lake. At the entrance you will also find a small cafe With a great view and a Museum shop. May 18th - August 31st: open daily 10-17 September 1st - May 16th: Mondays-Fridays 10-15 Sundays 12-15

Utstein Monastery is Norway's only well-preserved medieval monastery. The buildings were originally intended as a royal residence, but an Augustinian monastery was founded there in around 1265. After the reformation in 1537, the monastery and its property were returned to the crown, and it subsequently came into private ownership. The property has been in public ownership since 1935. Today, it is run as a museum and conference centre. Concerts are also held there. The cultural landscape around the monastery is protected by law.

The Barony Rosendal offers guided tours, art exhibitions, concerts, theatre in the Court Yard and lectures. A guided tour at Baroniet Rosendal is a tour through different epochs. The rooms are influenced by owners over 250 years, and the manor is preserved as a home – the way it was when the last owners left in 1927. The surrounding Rosendal Gardens is a 300 year old renaissance garden with roses in abundance. Romantic landscaped garden from 1850 with viewpoints overlooking the fjord, mountains and waterfalls. The tennant's farm Treo gives an impression of everyday life with farm animals and activities. Kitchen & Herb Garden with herbs, flowers, vegetables & fruits. Cafés with home made cakes and lunch with ingredients from local suppliers and fresh ingredients from the Kitchen & Herb Garden. Accommodation in B&B at the Home Farm Avlsgården 300 metres from the Manor.

Located at the innermost point of Førresfjorden, arquebus War history Museum is one of norway’s largest museums dealing with the theme of the Resistance during WWii. Covering more than 2000 m2, the museum takes the visitor through the dramatic history of the occupation on april 9th 1940 through to liberation in 1945. experience everyday life, the contribution of the mer- chant marine navy, the home front, weapons drops, and secret radio transmissions. the museum features 125 mannequins dressed in full wartime regalia, fully equipped coastal defence, and the german defeat in Berlin. arquebus War history Museum has its own shop that sells collectors’ items and military effects. Café. Groups:Guided tours outside normal opening hours, contact us for booking.

The Museum of Aviation History highlights local Norwegian aviation history from World War II until the present day. On display are 35 historic aircraft, both military and civil, uniforms, models and photographs. Café and museum shop. The museum is located at the seaplane port, near the airport.

Alvoen is one of Norway’s oldest industrial communities, with workers' cottages, production buildings and the mansion itself, which was the home of the owners, the Fasmer family. When King Haakon VII visited Alvoen in 1921, the legend says that Henrik Jansen Fasmer greeted him with the words: Welcome, Your Majesty, to my kingdom! Here the Fasmer family had created a small and successful industrial community, with a school, a savings bank, a library and a community hall for the workers. Alvoen Manor was also one of Bergen’s grandest private homes, and it has now been opened to the public. Here you will encounter the family history, industrial history, social history and art history, presented in a way that provides an exciting and picturesque glimpse of Norwegian social structures in the past.

Visit the open-air museum with its vast collection of old houses. Enjoy a stroll between the picturesque houses and the indoor exhibitions, and get an insight into the cultural and architectural history of Sunnmore. Sunnmore Museum is a beautiful open air museum with 55 old and distinct houses. While walking in between these houses you feel as if you are put back in time, and you will see how people lived in earlier times. On Wednesdays during summer, there are a lot of activities going on at the museum. In the main building the fascinating exhibitions on archaeology and culture in the Sunnmore region will provide you with a unique insight into the life of the people who have inhabited this area for several thousand years. Take a look at the museum's vast boat collection too, including replicas of Viking ships. The beautiful area surrounding the museum is also excellent for walks.