Fodor's Expert Review Bergenhus Festning

The major buildings at the medieval Bergenhus are Håkonshallen (Håkon's Hall) and Rosenkrantztårnet (Rosenkrantz Tower). Both are open to visitors. Håkonshallen is a royal ceremonial hall erected during the reign of Håkon Håkonsson in the mid-1200s; it sometimes closes for public holidays or special events. It was badly damaged by the explosion of a German ammunition ship in 1944, but was restored by 1961. Erected in the 1560s by the governor of Bergenhus, Erik Rosenkrantz, Rosenkrantztårnet served as a combined residence and fortified tower.