The Seven Mountains

The city of Bergen’s center is surrounded by 7 mountains, often referred to, simply, as “The Seven Mountains.”. The mountains have been the focus of artists and nature lovers alike for long as they offer both breathtaking views for artistic inspiration as well as an opportunity to reconnect to the nature which surrounds us.

While today much of the focus of the mountains is largely the natural beauty, traditionally, this has not been the focal point. These mountains have long served the purpose of sheltering the city from cold weather from the East, working with the chain of islands to the north of the city to create a more temperate climate allowing for long term settlement in the city. This in turn spurred the development which has led it to become Norway’s second largest city.

Interestingly, there are actually believed to be 9 mountains total in the chain. However, it is often a point of contention as to whether all of 9 noted peaks should truly be considered separate mountains due to connectivity lower down on some. The original noting of “Seven Mountains” is often believed to have been the work of Ludvig Holberg, a Scandinavian writer, whose inspiration for the title is thought to have been drawn from the Seven Hills of Rome. Regardless of the true numeration of mountains, The Seven Mountains have continued to be a bright offering of natural beauty, history, and a boon for continued development in Bergen through protection from the elements.