bergen at war tour

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Visiting Bergen's World War 2 sites - Bergen Forum

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Visiting Bergen's World War 2 sites

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For the Fjell Fortress you would need to hike from the main road - some 1,5 km uphill I believe. There are no guided tours. There are buses that will let you off at the main road - http://www.skyss.no - enter Tellnesskiftet as destination.

Thank you again.

I think Fjell fortress is the largest remaining structure, but the submarine bunker "Bruno" at Laksevåg is still intact I think. The allied attempt to destroy the bunker in 1944 was a disaster as bombs hit a nearby school.

A taxi to Fjell will be several hundred NOK

Close to NOK 1000 one way for a taxi.

The submarin bunker Bruno is only a few minutes by bus to Laksevåg, near the centre

From my very first time in Bergen I knew about a Resistance Museum in the city, but I could never find it. I went to the address and there was nothing there that I could identify as that, I did ask some people around and no one knew about it. The same happened at the Tourist Information office. I called the telephone number as well and it was a dead end.

If by any chance you find it, please let me know about it. If possible take some pictures and share those with me. Just send me a message by clicking on my screen name to do so.

Will you be in Oslo , or Svolvaer, or Kirkenes?. There you can find some very interesting WWII related sites. I know about some others as well.

Do you have any questions?, just send me a message.

http://www.forsvaretsmuseer.no/Bergenhus

Google has the following URL

http://www.dark-tourism.com/index.php/15-countries/individual-chapters/836-bergen-resistance-museum#l

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Norway in World War 2

A tour filled with stories about heroes, tragedies & the daily life 

World War II was a time of oppression, deprivation and pain for the people of Norway. Despite a neutrality agreement with Germany, Norway was occupied and in this tour you will learn the reasons why. You will hear about the daring military action that brought Norway under the control of the German occupiers and how Norwegian resistance fighters risked their lives secretly fighting them. You will learn how everyday life was for the people and why Norway became the focus of the Nazis and the Allies in the race to build the first atomic bomb.

The history of Norway during World War II is unknown to many, but the Scandinavian country was not just a sideshow, but played a significant role in the course of the war. Travel 80 years back in time on this tour and learn about one of the darkest chapters of European and Norwegian history.

The tour is divided into two parts:

In the first part of the tour you will learn the basic background about the occupation of Norway, through an entertaining multimedia lecture in our event room in Bryggen.

Duration: approx. 1 hour

In the second part of the tour you will pass places such as the hideout of the "Theta group" and the Gestapo HQ and hear stories of heroes and tragedies from the war years in Bergen. Our group is small with a maximum of 12 participants, so you will always have the opportunity to ask questions.  Duration approx. 1:30h

Practical information on the tour:

When & Where

• Monday – Friday / 15.Juni - 30.September
• Start: 2pm / 14:00
• Duration: 2,5 hours
• Language: English
• The tour ends at Bergens main shopping street Torgallmeningen.
• Please be at the event room 15 minutes before we start. The tour begins on time. The tour guide cannot be contacted by phone during the tour.

Meeting point

• The meeting point is at our Event room in Bryggen (see photo). Event room address:
 Bredsgården 2F, Bryggen, 5003 Bergen, Norway

Further Information

• Group size: minimum of 4 people, maximum of 12 
• The distance covered during the tour is approx. 2 km.
• This tour is unsuitable for wheelchair users.

• Tickets are available here on the website and at the Tourist Information Office in Bergen
• This tour is not suitable for children under 16 years.
• Tickets can be cancelled up to 24 hours before the tour begins with a full refund. Cancellations can only be made by sending an email to:  [email protected] . Ticket price Adults (from 16 years): 450 NOK

Bergenhus Fortress Museum

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Exhibitions: Women's Contribution to the Armed Forces and The Resistance Struggle 1940-1945.

The work to establish a museum dedicated to the resistance movement during the Second World War (1940-45) went on since shortly after the War. Many good efforts did not succeed, and it was not until 1996, with the reorganisation of the Norwegian Armed Forces in progress, that the Commandant of Bergenhus Fortress initiated the release of the depot building for museum purposes. Bergen Defence Association lobbied the Norwegian Parliament, which granted money, and together with collected means this secured that the depot building could be converted. Finally, on 9 April 2006 the museum, with three exhibitions on show, was opened by Gunnar Sønsteby.

Women`s contribution to the Norwegian Armed Forces: This exhibition illustrates the role women have played in the Armed Forces through history and up until the present, both individually and collectively. It describes the opportunities, but also the limitations that women have met within the Armed Forces. Women central to the history of the Armed Forces are presented. The exhibition opened on 10th of November 2004.

The resistance movement in and around Bergen 1940-45 This exhibition deals with both civilian and military resistance. It shows how a civilian campaign was organised against the Nazi party Nasjonal Samling’s attempts to Nazify the Norwegian society, and also how the military resistance developed from scattered, isolated groups to a large organisation with ties to London. The German occupation force used extensive resources to stop the resistance work and many people from Bergen were cruelly tortured before being executed or sent to their deaths inconcentration camps. Despite such setbacks the resistance movement grew steadily stronger until the liberation.

The history of the resistance movement is presented through unique photos, weapons, espionage equipment, sabotage materiel, film footage, interviews etc. After having worked for many years to organise this exhibition, we are happy to introduce it to the public. The exhibition opened on 9th of April 2006.

The history of Bergenhus Fortress The exhibition shows the history of the Fortress, from the beginning as King Øystein’s estate on Holmen, which then was made into a fortress and became the residency of the feudal overlord in 1514, and the further development until the present Bergenhus Fortress. The main emphasis is on King Håkon’s estate, the wars with Sweden over control in Scandinavia, Eske Bille and the building of Bergenhus Fortress. The exhibition also shows:

* The battle in Bergen harbour in 1665 and the action near Alvøen in 1808. * The IR9 effort in 1940. * The explosion at Festningskaien in 1944 and the rebuilding of Håkon’s Hall and the Rosenkrantz tower.

Source : Visit Bergen

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The Bergen fortress is located roughly between the cruise ship terminal and Bryggen, making it a very convenient place for visitors to explore. It is one of my favourite places to take to, simply because there’s so much history there. Everywhere you look, you hear about Kings, Armies, War and renovation. It’s incredible.

If you’re in Bergen and want to walk somewhere that’s maybe a little quieter than the town centre, or you love history, the fortress is for you!

On the 5th of May 2020, I went for a walk through the fortress and took some photos of all the buildings. I used the free museum guide that you can either pick up from Håkon’s Hall or the Rosenkrantz Tower, or you can download it online by clicking the link:

https://www.forsvarsbygg.no/globalassets/festningene/bergenhus-festning/festningsloype_bergenhus-festning_engelsk.pdf

For my walk below, I have added a little bit of information and changed the walking path slightly. I am interested in reading stories about places, not just simply what a place is. So I’ve added that to my walk.

Table of Contents

History of the bergen fortress, the royal estate.

When Olav Kyrre officially founded Bergen in 1070, the Bergen Fortress was to be the site of the new royal estate. The royal estate (at Alrekstad) was too far away from the harbour, Vågen, so Olav Kyrre had it moved.

Olav Kyrre had the Small Christ Church (Lille Kristkirken) built on the land, Holmen , and laid the foundations for the large Christ Church (Kristkirken), the towns medieval cathedral, in stone.

The next King of Norway, King Øystein Magnusson, moved the royal estate from Alrekstad to Holmen in the 1100s. He began building residences for the royals there.

A Stable Kingdom

After the various civil wars in Norway, King Håkon Håkonsson (King of Norway 1217-1263) took his seat as King of Norway. He made Holmen his residence. Norway became more permanently united under a single, national monarch. The royal residence had to become a more up-to-date fortified complex of stone buildings. Under Håkon Håkonsson, Bergen became the first true capital of Norway. The complex of new buildings at Holmen developed into the country’s political centre.

During Håkon Håkonsson’s and King Magnus the Lawmender’s reign, Håkon’s Hall and the ‘Keep by the Sea’ (present-day Rosenkrantz Tower ) were constructed. Additionally, several other royal buildings and a defensive wall finalised the fortress.

A wall was also placed around the estate, and various other royal buildings were constructed.

The Danish Military Base

At the beginning of the 16th century, Norway was becoming part of the Danish kingdom. As Holmen reflected Norway’s past and connection to independence, the Danish monarchy wanted it gone. The Danes levelled the Christ Church in 1530 for military reasons.

The union with Denmark meant that Bergen ceased to need a permanent royal residence. However, the estate at Holmen remained a political-administrative centre. This is where the ‘captain of the royal palace’, or the governor, the King’s leading representative in Western Norway, had his headquarters.

Renovations & Restoration

King Christian II’s governor, Jørgen Hanssøn (1514-1523) put the royal palace in order again. He developed the estate into an administrative centre, with warehousing for the King’s income, and a military strongpoint. His comprehensive reconstruction gave the complex the name it has had ever since: Bergenhus . -hus at the time signified ‘fortified castle’. The castle received its Renaissance facade when governor Erik Rosenkrantz (1560-68) had the medieval ‘keep by the sea’ converted into a residential tower.

The Dano-Norwegian absolute monarchy began in 1660. Bergenhus became a military base and any traces of the old royalty vanished. Hakon’s Hall was now a storage building, and its original function would not be remembered for 200 years. The topography of Holmen was altered, and the remains of the old medieval complex are visible only in the area around the old royal palace.

Bergenhus & Sverresborg’s last major renovation took place when the Napoleonic War started in 1807. Denmark-Norway fought on the side of France.

World War II

During the Second World War, the German navy used several of the buildings for their headquarters. The Rosenkrantz Tower had the Germans’ radio network.

One of the country’s worst events during World War II took place at the foot of the Rosenkrantz Tower. On the morning of the 20th of April 1944, a ship loaded with 100 tons of explosive blew up due to a mishap during welding. Since there was no warning, there were heavy casualties on the shore of Vågen. Iron from the ship and stones torn from the pier blew all over the town.

The blast wrecked Rosenkrantz Tower (though the stone walls remained). The interiors destroyed, including the recent renovation of Håkon’s Hall. The shock wave set fire to the other side of Vågen, destroying many wooden buildings. Previously, the area had been one of the best-preserved enclaves of 18th century buildings in town. The explosion made Bergen one of the most war damaged towns in Southern Norway.

The Bergen Fortress Today

Bergenhus is open to the general public, and it still has military and civilian functions. Large rock concerts and cultural events take place on the grounds. Bergenhus is under the command of the Royal Norwegian Navy, which has around 150 military personnel stationed there.

It is possible to walk around the fortress; a trail will guide you. There are two museums on the fortress: the Rosenkrantz Tower and Håkon’s Hall.

The Walk: Start by the Main Gate

The best place to start is by the main gate. If you are coming with a cruise ship, you will notice there is a gate on the other side of the fortress (no. 31). It’s just a couple minutes to cross through that gate to the main gate. It’s a much quicker walk than taking the main road.

Parade Ground

Originally, the third Apostle Church stood on this land. Today, the Parade Ground is an open courtyard. During the summer months, they sometimes have a stage set up for kids performances. If there is a festival, such as the Beer Festival, taking place here, they use the ground for the stalls. Today it’s the main passageway for the Bergen Fortress.

Rosenkrantz Tower

King Magnus the Lawmender was the one who built this tower around 1270. The Keep By the Sea had a royal apartment and chapel inside.

After the capital moved to Oslo, the Keep By the Sea lost its importance. Around 1520, Jørgen Hanssøn renovated the building to a sound state, and today you can still see the Keep by the Sea as it’s the backbone of the modern Rosenkrantz Tower.

The Present-Day Rosenkrantz Tower

It was Erik Rosenkrantz who gave the Rosenkrantz Tower its current form. Erik Rosenkrantz was one of the wealthiest men in Denmark-Norway. Erik Rosenkrantz made many changes to Bergen’s structure. For example, he altered the Hanseatic League’s power situation. When he arrived in Bergen in 1559 as the freshly appointed governor, he had spent years warning the King of the Hanseatic’s reluctance against participating in the community. As King Frederik II’s governor, Rosenkrantz had the task of putting Bergenhus to good architectural and military order.

Stonemasons from Scotland came to incorporate the old keep and Jørgen Hanssøn’s work into a larger residential tower. The new tower is influenced by contemporary Scottish tower architecture. Inside the tower, you can see all three phases of development. The tower looks right down at Bryggen, displaying Denmark-Norway’s old power, especially over the Hanseatic League.

Construction of the Rosenkrantz Tower finished around 1533. When Scholeus released his print of Bergen in 1580, we see the Rosenkrantz Tower standing tall at Bergenhus. The appearance has been more or less retained throughout the years.

Fortress Courtyard

The courtyard has its design from the 18th century. Likely, in Håkon Håkonsson’s time, wooden buildings were standing here. Recent excavations have found traces of old wooden buildings. The previous Apostle Church’s likely stood here as royal chapels.

Before the Second World War, a lovely garden with trees and flowers were planted in the courtyard. The explosion from World War II damaged the garden, and since then it has been a bare courtyard.

Residence of the Captain, Commander of the Watch

This is the white building next to the barbican, or directly behind you if you are facing Håkon’s Hall. It was built in 1714 and later connected to Håkon Håkonsson’s barbican. The building sustained extensive damage in the 1944 explosion but has since been restored.

The Commandant’s Residence

The Commandant’s Residence is the white building directly opposite the museum entrance to Håkon’s Hall. Originally, King Eirik Magnusson’s ‘Ladies Hall’ from the 1290s stood here. It was probably where the ladies of the court had their place of residence. The Commandant’s Residence was built in 1725 and restored after the 1944 explosion. The appearance is very much the same as the 1725 building.

All of the whitewashed buildings around the courtyard were built in the early 18th century. Under the white paint, they’d look exactly like Håkon’s Hall and the Rosenkrantz Tower: bare stone!

Håkons Hall

The first håkon’s hall.

Here’s the most famous and photogenic building at Bergen Fortress: Håkon’s Hall. This is also a museum and you can go inside, and I’ll cover the interior in a separate article. Honestly, the exterior is where it’s at.

Built sometime between 1247 and 1261, Håkon’s Hall was the royal seat in the Middle Ages, with the King’s Great Hall on the upper floor. Important events such as coronations, royal weddings and important political meetings took place here.

In the Late Middle Ages, when the capital had moved to Oslo, the original function of Håkon’s Hall lapsed. When the royals visited Bergen in 1450, 1453 and 1486, they likely used Håkon’s Hall for meetings and celebrations. The Hall became a storage room for royal income after Jørgen Hanssøn became governor.

The Revival of Håkon’s Hall

National Romanticism in the 19th century saw a renewed interest in the country’s history and old buildings. Håkon’s Hall’s original function was revived in 1840. For the next fifty years, the building saw an extensive restoration. Henrik Ibsen wrote a poem in the halls honour and Henrik Wergeland used the name Håkon’s Hall in one of his poems. Frescoes lined the wall of the interior depicting Håkon Håkonsson’s Saga, and stained glass windows replaced the old windows.

The explosion in Bergen harbour in 1944 destroyed all the restoration work. Fortunately, the stone walls remained. The hall was restored a second time, though the new decorations are much less detailed and lavish. The hall opened to the public on 11 September 1961, the 700th anniversary of its first use.

Today Håkon’s Hall is the largest building in the royal palace and the largest secular medieval building in Norway. It was likely the inspiration for Akershus Fortress in Oslo and the royal estate at Avaldsnes. Håkon’s Hall is in use for concerts (especially choir song and chamber music) and banquets (mostly official).

Jørgen Hanssøn's Wall

You’ll see the wall as soon as you go through the gate, and it’s well worth walking along it. Jørgen Hanssøn was the Danish lord who oversaw renovations of Bergenhus in the 1520s. He reduced the area of the castle and constructed this wall to outline the boundaries. The new wall replaced sections of the medieval fortifications.

The Second Stone Walls

Standing here, you get this incredible view to Håkon’s Hall, and it makes you wonder how everyone assumed this was just a storage building for hundreds of years. The ruins in front of Håkon’s Hall were originally additional stone halls, constructed around the same time. They served as defensive buildings to protect Håkon’s Hall from attacks from the sea but were also residential and functional buildings. The two buildings probably formed an inner courtyard that was the core of the defensive fortifications.

The Artillery Building

The artillery building has had many purposes since it was built in the 1750s. For some time, it has been a laboratory and a prison, though not at the same time! During the archaeological surveys of Bergenhus Castle, architect Gerhard Fischer used the building as a residence and office.

The Old Christ Church Site

If you walk through the narrow gap in the hedges, you will find yourself on the remains on the old Christ Church. In the Middle Ages, this was the main church in Bergen. Dating back to 1170, the church had the remains of St. Sunniva, the patron saint of Bergen. Two Queens and five Kings have been crowned here, and four kings were interred inside the church. When the site was being developed for military purposes in the early 16th century, the Christ Church was torn down. The work was done so well that archaeologists have been unable to cover but a few traces of it. At the site of the former choir, you can see a statue in memory of St. Sunniva as well as an inscription to commemorate the queens and kings who were crowned and laid to rest here.

General Mansbach's Avenue

This part of the park was planted by General Carl Mansbach in the 1830s. Only parts of the park remain. You may notice that the trees have had all their branches cut off; this is because they grow very quickly and there’s a risk of them falling off and hitting someone.

After the 1944 explosion, the German’s radio room was damaged. They had Soviet prisoners of war build this bunker in heavily reinforced concrete to withstand air attacks. After the war, the German government gave Bergen some money to destroy the bunker, but instead, they planted the vines on the building to keep it as part of our history.

The Regimental Building

Located just behind the bunker, the Regimental Building was completed in 1921 and served as living quarters for the two former regiments from Western Norway. The building was divided in the middle.

The Main Guard

Built in the 1700s, the Main Guard has the monogram of King Carl Johan of Sweden and Norway above the gateway. This is because it officially became the Main Guard in 1835 when Carl Johan was ruling. The Main Guard was badly damaged in 1944 but has since been restored.

Bergen Fortress Museum

The large white building is the Bergen Fortress Museum. It’s a free museum that has exhibitions on the history of the fortress, World War II, and current activities of the Norwegian Army. It’s a fascinating museum worthy of a visit, and I’ll cover it in a separate article.

Sverresborg

The first sverresborg.

The last stop on this walk is Sverresborg Fortress, but keep in mind it’s an uphill walk and may not be suited for everybody. The history of Sverresborg goes back to the 1100s when the royal residence at Holmen was unfortified and vulnerable. During the civil war, King Sverre constructed two of the first stone forts in Norway: one in Trondheim and one in Bergen. Sverresborg took part in several battles during the civil war, and the site was reinforced by King Håkon Håkonsson around 1250. Sverresborg remained as a medieval fort until around the 1500s. It’s not mentioned much in history, probably because it was overshadowed by the more modern facilities at Holmen. In 1477, the locals complained that the Hanseatic merchants had torn down its walls.

The Present Form of Sverresborg

The fortress received its present form in the years 1807-1813 when Denmark and Norway were drawn into the Napoleonic Wars. From the 1830s onwards, a park is situated at Sverresborg. During World War II, the Germans established two anti-aircraft batteries in the fortress. After the war, Sverresborg was used as an execution site in connection with treason. Seven Germans and one Norwegian war criminal were executed at Sverresborg in 1946. The military still uses the site occasionally as a training ground, but the locals like to use it to sneakily watch the concerts at Koengen! Directly under Sverresborg is the residence of the ‘Master of Ramparts’, the oldest part going back to the 18th century. As the very cool name implies, the master of ramparts was in charge of the maintenance and upkeep of the buildings and fortifications. The yellow barracks were used as an academy for petty officers up until World War II, where it sustained heavy damage. Today the building houses the department of the Norwegian Armed Forces.

I hope you enjoy the walk of Bergen Fortress!

Welcome to the Hidden North

The Hidden North is an online travel guide written by me, Emma, to help you make the best of your trip to Northern Europe. Welcome!

Originally from Australia, I moved to Bergen in Norway eight years ago after marrying a local ‘Bergenser’. I started doing local tours of Bergen before becoming a tour leader in Northern Europe. After doing that for a few years, I have settled down in Bergen to operate my tour company  I Love Bergen and write my travel site  The Hidden North . 

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• Viking Ocean

"Bergen at War" Excursion Level of Difficulty

By Newdaytrippers , December 6, 2022 in Viking Ocean

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Newdaytrippers

We are doing the British Isles Explorer originating in Bergen.  This is our first cruise with Viking and our first visit to Bergen.  There is an optional excursion to both the Fjell Fortress and the North Sea Traffic Museum which lasts 6 hours.  It's called "Bergen at War".  I've visited both museum websites and am wondering why it is rated as demanding.  Normally we would not attempt a "demanding" excursion.  Other than touring down in the bunkers and labyrinths underground, which we can do, can anyone who has done this tour please let me know what's entailed.  Thank you.

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When Viking list as demanding, from my experience listening to many port talks the day before, it often means:

• More extensive walking
• Standing still for periods without seating available
• Stairs / steps (more than a few)
• Cobblestones and uneven walking surfaces
• Many non North American destinations do not have the same provision of hand railings and accessibility that we might expect

I have seen many guests on Viking not be able to physically complete a non-demanding tour.

I know that I have not answered your direct question because I have not done this particular excursion, but until someone does, perhaps this will help somewhat.

No easy quick access to bathrooms after copious coffee at World Cafe breakfast.

This is very helpful.  Thank you.  I'll need to look further into this.  My husband surprised me by climbing down steep narrow ladders on board Nelson's ship "The HMS Victory" in Portsmouth, but he is technically a "fall risk", which is why I am asking for the details.  No walker.  No cane.  But no handrails might be a concern.

Individual guides may also set varying levels of speed, etc on walking tours.  I've been on Viking city tours where the guide set a forced march pace, and others where a pleasant stroll was the pace. Even within different sections of the same tour, guides will set a different pace.

No way to anticipate that.

46 minutes ago, Newdaytrippers said:  ladders on board Nelson's ship "The HMS Victory" in Portsmouth, but he is technically a "fall risk"

Pet peeve, sorry, she is His Majesty's Ship Victory, who carried Nelson's flag at Trafalgar. She is now flag of the home fleet. 

She is not 'the' she is HMS  Victory or Victory 

*Gets down off high horse*

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DESTINATIONS , EUROPE , NORWAY

A perfect day in bergen: itinerary for cruise passengers.

Bergen is a popular stop on Norwegian fjords cruise itineraries and your operator will gladly sell you a guided day trip. However, the former capital of Norway is a very easy place to explore independently.

So what should you see if you only have one day in Bergen on a cruise stop? 

To help you make the most of your day there, here are the best things to do in Bergen weaved around a one-day itinerary.

IN THIS ARTICLE

My Suggested 1-Day Bergen Itinerary

To help you make the most of your time in port, here is the 1-day Bergen itinerary I followed. If you have more time here or are looking for alternative activities, I’ve also included a few bonus things to see in Bergen.

Ride the Fløibanen funicular

For panoramic views over Bergen and awesome nature trails

Start your day in Bergen by taking a ride on the Fløibanen funicular. This whisks you to the summit of  Mount Floyen , 320 meters above sea level in less than seven minutes.

Treat yourself to panoramic views over Bergen and explore the abundance of clearly marked nature trails. But watch out for the  witches !

Although the exact number is not known, it is believed that from 1560 until around 1700 there were up to 1400  witch trials in Norway . Favoured methods of torture and execution included the rack, boiling sulphur and burning.

Before moving away from the summit, make sure that you say ‘hallo’ to the goats. Mount Floyen is home to Kashmir goats. Elvis was particularly becoming.

Next, take the 1.6km loop to Skomakerdiket, with its crystal-clear lake.

After doing a circuit of this lake, wind your way through forest trails, to the soundtrack of birdsong, before descending a series of steps to the  Bryggen  neighbourhood and the funicular’s terminus.

• The funicular station is at Vetrlidsalmenning 23 A, right in the centre of town.
• Get there early, especially when there is a cruise ship in town. When I got there at 8.15 am there was only a short queue. By the time I got back at 11 am, it was around 100 people deep.
• The funicular runs every 15 minutes. You can check the timetable and purchase Fløibanen funicular tickets here .
• The Bergen Card will gain you free admission and allow you to queue jump.
• If you are walking down, allow at least two hours for your visit. If you are feeling fit, you can walk up too. However, if you have only one day in Bergen I recommend taking the funicular to save you precious time. It’s a fun experience too!

Explore historic Bryggen

For a picture-perfect ensemble of stone and timber buildings.

With its closely packed, brightly painted wooden buildings sitting alongside stone warehouses, Bryggen is the historic trading centre of Bergen. In recognition of its historical importance, this has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

In the 14th Century, the city became one of the parts of the German  Hanseatic League , a commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Central and Northwestern Europe. The Hansa merchants reigned supreme for 200 years and, as a result, Bryggen and Bergen flourished.

A devastating fire in 1702 laid waste to many of Bryggen’s medieval buildings. The replacement wooden warehouses were subsequently demolished to make way for the brick and stone buildings we see today. However, these buildings are sympathetic to the Hansa period style and many of the 18th Century timber buildings have survived.

Today, many of these buildings are home to shops and restaurants.  So, if you are in the market for that perfect Nordic Sweater, this is where to go.

Bryggen stretches down the eastern side of the harbour and finishes at the Torget, Bergen’s main square.

Target the Torget

For something a bit fishy.

Although fish is the main order of the day in the market at Bergen’s Torget, it also sells fruit, vegetable and souvenirs. It is a great place to eat fish and seafood for a not-too-outrageous price.

In 1556, the Fish Market was moved from the Nikolaikirkeallmenning, in nearby Bryggen, to prevent the Hanseatics from gaining too much power over Bergen’s most important trading place. As Bergen’s Fish Market increased in size and importance, this precipitated a construction boom in the area, with a large number of buildings dating from the 1700s and 1800s.

Check out Bergen’s street art AROUND Kong Oscarsgate

For a funkier side to Bergen.

Heading east from the Torget, Kong Oscarsgate is a particularly unlovely main thoroughfare. However, it is home to the  Domkirke,   Bergen’s cathedral , and its side streets provide the canvas for an eclectic collection of  street art. 

Go to this resource to find the city’s best street art.

Visit the Leprosy Museum

To learn about the story of Norway’s fight against leprosy.

Between 1850 and 1900, Bergen had the largest concentration of patients with leprosy in Europe. The museum is housed in St Jorgen’s Hospital, which specialised in the care of lepers until it shut its doors in 1946.

The patients’ living quarters have been left as they were, and you can also view their paintings and life stories. A moving memorial to this group of people marginalised by society.

Bergen’s Leprosy Museum is located at Kong Oscarsgate 59. It is open daily during the summer months (May to September) and you can check the opening hours here .

When I visited, the display information was mainly in Norwegian, but the helpful staff will give you English language booklets.

Visit the Bergenhus Festning Museum

To discover the story behind the resistance in Bergen during World War II.

This friendly and free museum at the entrance to the harbour is dedicated to the resistance movement, both civilian and military, during the Second World War. Make your way to the first floor where the history of the resistance is explored through well-composed displays, which include photos, weapons and espionage equipment.

The resistance was particularly strong in Bergen and the German occupation forces fought against it with all of their might. This included torturing the city’s citizens before their execution or dispatch to concentration camps. Despite this, the movement continued to grow in strength, a testament to the fortitude of Bergen’s people.

Admission is free. When I visited, water, tea and coffee were available free of charge

Visit the Rosenkrantz Tower & King Hakon’s Hal

For a dose of medieval splendour.

Finish your 1-day Bergen itinerary with a visit to the Rosenkrantz Tower, one of the best-preserved fortresses in Norway. But perhaps more compelling is the adjacent  Hakonshallen  (King Hakon’s Hall), a medieval royal residence and feasting hall.

Opening hours here . As the opening times for Hakonshallen are limited, check ahead.

More Than a Day in Bergen? Here Are Other Things to Add to Your Itinerary

Hanseatic museum.

Bergen’s Hanseatic Museum , newly rehoused in Schøtstuene, traces the life and history of the town’s Hanseatic merchants.

KODE Art Museum and Composers’ Homes

This cluster of seven buildings houses 50,000 artefacts relating to art, craft, design and music. These objects are exhibited in the four buildings in the centre of Bergen (KODE 1,2,3,4) and in the three buildings which were the homes of the composers Ole Bull, Harald Saeverud and Edvard Grieg.

The museums are open for much of the year. Check the website for locations,  opening times and ticket prices for KODE Art Museum and Composers’ Homes

The final two things to see in Bergen are a short distance outside the centre of the city.

Edvrad Grieg’s home (Troldhaugen)

Built in 1885, Troldhaugen was home to Nina and Edvard Grieg for the last 22 summers of the composer’s life. It became a museum in 1928 and is also where the Griegs are buried.

To reach Edvard Grieg’s home, take the light rail from Bergen city centre, direction “Bergen Lufthavn” and leave the train at the station “Hop”. From there, it’s around a 25-minute walk (follow the signs for “Troldhaugen”). On weekdays you can also take bus no. 53 or 67.

Visit the Fantoft Stave Church

Due to the light rail being out of action when I visited Bergen, I was not able to visit the  Fantoft Stave Church . I was gutted. A stave church is a Norwegian must-see in my book, and this was the only accessible one from my fjords cruise.

Stave churches are medieval timber buildings with carvings combining Christan motifs with Viking themes. Although the Fantoft Stave Church is a replica of the 12th Century original that burnt down in 1992, I still feel that it is worth visiting.

To reach the Fantoft Stave Church, take the Light Rail from Bergen city centre and get off at “Fantoft” station. From there it’s around a 10-minute walk. It is open in the summer months only.

Is the Bergen Card worth it?

For ease of use, you might consider getting your hands on the Bergen Card , a golden ticket to the city’s cultural delights and free city transport. This is available for 24 hours, 48 hours or 72 hours. Do the maths before you buy it. As I spent less than a day in Bergen, it was not a good buy for me. Compare its cost with what you are likely to pay on admission fees over the specified duration.

How I Visited Bergen on a Cruise

I sailed with P&O on HMV Britannia. We were in port from 8 am until 5 pm.

Getting to Bergen’s city centre from the cruise terminal was easy, a pleasant 15-minute walk to the Torget.

Enjoy your day in Bergen

It’s one of Norway’s most scenic cities.

If you have found this article helpful, take a look at my guides to the other stops on this Norwegian Fjords cruise .

• 10 Awesome Things to Do in Stavanger in A Day
• Alesund, Norway: An Art Nouveau Walk in a Fairytale Town
• Visiting Flam on a Cruise: The Flam Scenic Railway and More!

Finally, if you are a cruise rookie, I also have advice on how to choose your first cruise and guidance on cruise cabins , including the lowdown on single staterooms for those cruising alone .

About Bridget

Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.

Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.

To get in touch, email her at [email protected] or follow her on social media.

Contact us at [email protected] or +47 940 54 465 (it's better to message than to call)

• A Walk Through Bergen Past & Present

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2024 summer season: 16 April – 30 September

10am – 12pm: A Walk Through Bergen Past & Present 11am – 1pm: A Walk Through Bergen Past & Present (1 May – 16 September) 11:30am – 1:30pm: Nordnes Walking Tour 12:30pm – 2:30pm: Bergen by Minibus & Bryggen Walk 2pm – 4pm: A Walk Through Bergen Past & Present 3pm – 5pm: A Walk Through Bergen Past & Present (1 May – 16 September) 6pm – 8pm: A Walk Through Bergen Past & Present

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10am – 12pm: A Walk Through Bergen Past & Present 12:30pm – 1:30pm: Bergen by Minibus & Bryggen Walk 2pm – 4pm: A Walk Through Bergen Past & Present

All children under five can come for free on our walking tours. Do not add them to your booking – just bring them along. Children of all ages must be paid for on our bus tour. 

For information about strollers, wheelchairs, and other questions, visit our FAQ page. 

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A Walk Through Bergen Past & Present

See the best of Bergen with our walking tour. The first part of the tour will take you through Bergen’s historic area, where you learn about the history of Bergen during the 13th and 14th centuries, including the Hanseatic League.

On the second part of the walk, we go into the hilly neighbourhood Fjellsiden and learn about everyday life. We finish by walking through the hip inner city, where you will get the best restaurant and cafe recommendations.

Important information:

Adults:  280 NOK Children:  220 NOK Activity Level:  Moderate (up and down cobblestone hills on the second half of the tour) Meeting point:  Bradbenken 1 Duration:  2 hours Time:  All year round at 10am and 2pm, summer also has a tour at 11am, 3pm and 6pm.  Max group size:  16

Join us for the neighbourhood of Nordnes in Bergen. Located on a peninsula, Nordnes is one of the best-preserved neighbhourhoods in the city. Wander the narrow cobblestone alleys and learn about Bergen’s incredible history – including witches, crime, and seafarers. 

Adults:  320 NOK / Not recommended for children (prostitution, crime, murder discussed) Activity Level:  Moderate (up and down cobblestone hills) Meeting point:  Østre Murallmenningen 23 Duration:  2 hours Time:  Summer at 11:30am Max group size:  14

Exclusive Mini-bus tour to Bergen's Scenic Spots

Join a guided minibus tour around Bergen. On the journey, you’ll get a comprehensive overview of Bergen’s history, culture and everyday life. The bus also makes at least four stops at scenic spots known only by locals. The minibus ensures we can get to streets the big bus tours can’t get to. 

Adults: 700 NOK Children:  600 NOK Activity Level:  Easy Meeting point:  Bradbenken 1 Duration:  2 hours Time:  12:30pm Max group size:  15

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin warns Russia could provide long-range weapons to attack West - and issues new nuclear threat

Vladimir Putin has warned he could supply weapons to other nations to strike Western countries in a meeting with international journalists. The Russian president also reaffirmed the country's position on using nuclear weapons. Follow live updates below.

Thursday 6 June 2024 16:51, UK

• Putin warns Russia could provide long-range weapons to attack West
• Lavrov: French military instructors in Ukraine would be 'legitimate target'
• Ivor Bennett:  Why is Lavrov in Africa?
• Ukraine peace summit 'opens door to limited talks with Russia'
• Big picture:  Everything you need to know about the war right now
• Your questions answered: Are there any signs of an underground resistance in Russia?

That's it for our live coverage of the war in Ukraine for today.

You can scroll through the blog below to catch up on the day's developments.

By Nicole Johnston, Asia correspondent in Beijing

Putin's St Petersburg summit comes right out of the same playbook as China's President Xi Jinping.

So how do you get a read on China's geo-political thinking? One way is by wading through the dry and detailed pronouncements of its president, that's where the nuggets are.

In 2022, Xi said: "The world today is undergoing major changes, unseen in a century.

"The most important characteristic of the world is chaos and the trend is likely to continue."

In the world according to Xi, the time is right to reorder global governance with China at its pinnacle, where it belongs. His view is that the US anchored world order is breaking down.

Many countries in the global south are on board with China, chaffing at the dominance of the US led international system and ready to countenance a shake-up.

Russia is in lock step with China. 

Both countries need each other. Though Russia needs China more, for trade and diplomatic cover.

In this great power rivalry, the China-Russian axis could draw in other regional disrupters like Iran and North Korea.

If that happens it will be a formidable alliance based on hostility towards the US, sympathy for Russia, a deep fear of subversion and in the case of China, a relentless goal to unify with Taiwan.

Ukraine's main hydropower company says it has initiated proceedings to secure damages for Russia's destruction of the Kakhovka dam and power station a year ago today.

State-run Ukrhydroenergo said it estimates the damage to be around €2.5bn (£2.12bn).

The explosion of the dam on 6 June 2023 - which sent huge amounts of water across swathes of southern Ukraine and left thousands of people without drinking water - was met with global outcry and accusations of a war crime.

"The company's actions aim to compensate for the losses caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant," Ukrhydroenergo said in a statement. 

"The company believes that initiating international arbitration process is the most promising way to compensate for the losses." 

The firm said Vladimir Putin, his government and other authorised bodies had been informed.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska have arrived in Normandy for an event to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

French President Emmanuel Macron greeted the Ukrainian leader with a hug as he arrived, and the president was applauded as he went to take his place inside the event.

Several other political figures including UK defence minister Grant Shapps embraced Mr Zelenskyy as they greeted him.

Earlier, the Ukrainian president said he was "honoured" to participate in the anniversary event and said he would also take part in "important events and meetings aimed at strengthening our country".

"This event and day serve as a reminder of the courage and determination demonstrated in the pursuit of freedom and democracy," he said.

"Allies defended Europe's freedom then, and Ukrainians do so now. Unity prevailed then, and true unity can prevail today."

Earlier today we reported claims by Russian officials that Ukrainian drones hit an oil refinery and fuel depot in Russian border regions.

Rostov regional governor Vasily Golubev said an overnight drone attack struck the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, causing a fire to erupt. 

Meanwhile the governor for Belgorod, a Russian border region which has come under frequent Ukrainian fire during the war, said a drone hit an oil depot and caused an explosion.

No casualties were reported in either attack.

The trial of a US soldier accused of stealing is under way in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok.

Staff Sergeant Gordon Black flew to the city to see his girlfriend last month but was arrested after she accused him of stealing from her, US and Russian officials said.

The 34-year-old, who was on leave at the time, faces up to five years in prison if found guilty.

The US army said the soldier had not been given official clearance to travel to Russia's far east.

According to Russian news agency RIA, Sgt Black will give evidence during the trial and respond to the allegations against him.

He has been cooperating with authorities, the report said.

Following today's court session, Sgt Black's girlfriend, Alexandra Vashchuk, told reporters "it was a simple domestic dispute" during which the soldier "became aggressive and attacked" her.

"He then stole money from my wallet and I didn't give him permission to do it," she said.

Joe Biden has just addressed the crowds at the US national D-Day commemoration in Normandy, alongside French president Emmanuel Macron.

The US president began with a retelling of the devastation and evil unleashed on the world by Hitler and told the stories of some veterans in the audience.

"Every one of them knew the probability of dying was real, but they did it anyway," he said.

Mr Biden prayed that America never forgets the importance of alliances, noting NATO as the "greatest military alliance in the history of the world".

"Isolationism was not the answer 80 years ago, and it is not the answer today," he said.

"We know the dark forces that these heroes fought against 80 years ago, they never fade." 

He added: "The struggle between dictatorship and freedom is unending. Here in Europe we see one stark example. Ukraine has been invaded by a tyrant bent on domination."

Mr Biden continued: "Make no mistake, the autocrats of the world are watching closely.

"To surrender to bullies, to bow down to dictators, is simply unthinkable. Were we to do that, it means we would be forgetting what happened here on these hallowed beaches.

"History tells us that freedom is not free: If you want to know the price of freedom, come here to Normandy and look."

Russia has detained a French national on suspicion of collecting information on Russian military activity, investigators have said.

The man had visited the country repeatedly over several years, Russia's Investigative Committee said.

He's also said to have held meetings with Russian citizens.

The man has not been named.

The outcome of the US election this November is unlikely to have any impact on Washington's policy towards Russia, Vladimir Putin has said.

In comments cited by the Russian embassy in the UK, the Russian president said the Kremlin does "not think there will be any serious changes".

"You know perfectly well that the current developments in the US are political infighting; they are burning themselves out, their state and their political system," he said.

Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump are their parties' presumptive nominees for the looming election.

Several polls are putting Trump ahead of Mr Biden, despite his recent criminal conviction.

Earlier this year, Mr Putin said he would prefer to see Mr Biden re-elected to the White House as he is "more experienced". 

But he has also enjoyed a previous good relationship with Trump, who has often praised his leadership. 

Hungary will attend a Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland next week despite Budapest strengthening its ties with Moscow.

Foreign minister Peter Szijjarto confirmed at an economic forum in St Petersburg that his country would be represented at the summit on 15 June.

The summit is aimed at building support among dozens of countries for a 10-point peace proposal from Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which includes Russian troops fully withdrawing from Ukrainian territory.

Russia has not been invited, and has branded it a waste of time.

Hungary, an EU and NATO member, has often pushed back against sending Western aid to Ukraine and has been critical of sanctions on Russia.

Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also reaffirmed their commitment to bilateral ties during a meeting in October.

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Russia’s top diplomat promises more military support for Burkina Faso as he tours West Africa

In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Burkina Faso Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré smile posing for a photo during their meeting in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Moscow pledged more support to Burkina Faso in fighting extremist military groups, as the Russian foreign minister continues his whirlwind tour of West Africa in an attempt to fill in the vacuum left by the region’s traditional Western partners. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)

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OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — Russia’s foreign minister on Wednesday pledged more support to Burkina Faso in fighting militant groups as he pressed his whirlwind tour of West Africa in an attempt to fill a vacuum left by the region’s traditional Western partners.

Sergey Lavrov spoke at a news conference in the country’s capital of Ouagadougou while on the third leg of his latest Africa trip, after Guinea and the Republic of Congo.

Russia is seeking to shore up support from the region amid Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. A number of African countries in recent years have expressed growing frustration with their traditional Western partners such as France and the United States.

“Russian instructors have been working here and their number will increase,” Lavrov said, adding that Russia has been helping train Burkina Faso’s military and law enforcement personnel. “We have supplied and will continue to supply military equipment to help strengthen Burkina Faso’s defense capability and allow it to eliminate the remaining terrorist groups.”

Lavrov said he appreciated the “objective and fair” position of Burkina Faso on the war in Ukraine. “For our part, we are ready to provide our support for the just cause of Africans who are trying to free themselves from neo-colonial influence.”

Burkina Faso, a landlocked nation of 20 million, has been ravaged in the past eight years by violence from extremist groups loosely affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, and from the fighting between government forces and the militants.

The country also went through two coups in just 10 months, the second last year after which a military junta threw out French forces and turned to Russia for security support. However, the junta has struggled to contain the security and humanitarian crisis.

Burkina Faso has topped the list of the world’s biggest neglected crises for the second year in a row, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council. A record 6.3 million out of 20 million people will need humanitarian assistance in 2024, the aid organization said, with many on the brink of starvation. Two million people remain internally displaced, about 60% of them children. Many have been traumatized, but resources to help them are scarce .

Jan Egeland, the agency’s secretary-general, told The Associated Press that Western governments have been withdrawing financial aid from Burkina Faso and other countries in the Sahel, a region encompassing states on the fringes of the Sahara Desert, contributing to the vicious circle of poverty, violence, and extremism.

“The disengagement of the West is bringing them no influence in the region,” Egeland said. “But I haven’t seen Russia helping us in our humanitarian work or doing development programs, so the Russian approach is not going to bring relief that the people need.”

But, he added, “I see Russian flags in Burkina Faso. I don’t see European flags.”

Later Wednesday, Lavrov arrived in Chad, which has also made the list of the world’s neglected crises.

Pronczuk reported from Dakar, Senegal.

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War Dog Memorial in South Lyon gives pups a formal sendoff

BRIGHTON — A war dog memorial in South Lyon has given 73 military animals a formal, honorable sendoff.

A dozen of those memorials were funded by a single Brighton business that identifies with the message.

Linda and Craig Suter, owners of Big Frog Custom T-Shirts in Brighton, has partnered with the Michigan War Dog Memorial for some time now. In total, the business has donated nearly $10,000 through its online store. 

The Michigan War Dog Memorial is located in South Lyon. Big Frog is located at 9690 Village Place Boulevard in Brighton.

Linda and Craig learned about the memorial when a volunteer offered them a tour.

The couple owned dogs, but they've recently passed away. Craig said he and Linda loved their dogs, but added handlers who lose their dogs also lose their partner.

“(The memorial) provides a respectful place to honor not only the dog but the handlers who’ve lost their best friends — to show them the community really appreciated all they did and share in their grief of the passing of these service animals,” Craig said. 

Six years ago, after learning the memorial had been vandalized, the Suters helped the organization acquire security cameras and lights. This led to a partnership with Phil and Barb Weitlauf, who founded the memorial. 

“(It's) a local community bootstrap project — it’s an American gem right now, as far as I’m concerned,” Craig said. “They’ve done such a great job with it.” 

Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage

Handlers can bring their military working dogs to the memorial for an official ceremony. The organization offers a seven-dog “howling team” that howls for 21 seconds to provide a send-off.

“There’s never a dry eye in the house,” Linda said. “It’s one of the most emotional ceremonies I’ve ever been to.” 

The Michigan War Dog Memorial conducts ceremonies nearly every weekend throughout the summer. It also created a Path of Honor and a memorial wall reminiscent of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

“What they’re doing there has been a great thing for all service animals,” Linda said. 

Learn more at mwdm.org .

— Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at  [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter  @SalsaEvan .

Virginia War Memorial to open new D-Day exhibit on 80th anniversary

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The Virginia War Memorial will open a new exhibit on Thursday in honor of the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

D-Day occurred on June 6 in 1944, when American and Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in France during World War II.

The exhibit, “D+80: Virginians in the Normandy Invasion,” opens on Thursday, June 6, and will reportedly tell stories of men and women from Virginia who participated in the landings and the preparations from them.

The memorial is free to visit and tour, and free parking is available onsite.

The grounds are open from dawn to dusk each day, and the Paul and Phyllis Galanti Education Center and the Wright Pavilion are open from Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRIC ABC 8News.

New marker to commemorate Revolutionary War general's visit to Augusta in 1825

Another marker commemorating Gen. Marquis de Lafayette’s visit to Augusta 250 years ago will soon be placed in downtown Augusta. 

The markers recognize the significant historical events associated with the French aristocrat, who served as general under George Washington during the Revolutionary War.  The new marker will be placed on the Greene Street side of the Municipal Building, which was one of the celebration sites during the visit. 

Erick Montgomery, executive director of Historic Augusta, said a private group is providing the markers in the cities Lafayette visited during his year-long Farewell to the Nation tour. On March 23-25, 1825, Lafayette was in Augusta. 

More: Augusta Commissioner Alvin Mason temporarily steps down as he undergoes back surgery

Another marker honoring Lafayette’s visit was placed by the Georgia Historical Society in 1962 at the former site of the Planter’s Inn where Lafayette stayed and where a ball was held in his honor. 

Montgomery this week gave Augusta Commissioners a brief history on the importance of Lafayette’s role in America’s battle to win independence from England. 

Lafayette became a Freemason in 1775 and began to advocate for the rights of man, including the abolition of slavery. He was inspired by the American Revolution. Despite the disapproval of the French king, he joined the fight and was commissioned as a major general in the American Army. 

He served with George Washington during the severe winter at Valley Forge and recruited French forces to join the American battle.  

“He was in the final significant battle of the war in Yorktown to defeat General Cornwallis and end the war,” Montgomery said. 

In 1824, to commemorate the 50 th anniversary of the end of the war, President James Monroe asked Lafayette, who at 67 was the last surviving major general of the war, to travel to all 24 states that existed at that time. The Farewell Tour took 13 months and it’s estimated that Lafayette traveled 6,000 miles, he said. 

Montgomery said Lafayette was treated like royalty in Augusta. He arrived by steamboat from Savannah. The bridges over the river were decorated with flowers.  

According to The Augusta Chronicle which published stories about the visit:  

“ Storekeepers displayed all sorts of Lafayette gear – hats, portraits, souvenirs. An arch was constructed over Broad Street. A platform big enough to hold 600 diners was put up in front of the courthouse on Greene Street. With enough military escorts to win a second revolution, Lafayette was greeted with one welcoming address in French, and a speech from the mayor in English. At 3 p.m., there was an outdoor banquet put on by the proprietor of the Globe Hotel, and still more speeches. And that evening, they had a ball at the Planters Hotel, which The Chronicle reported "exceeded the splendor of any ever given in this city."  

The date for the marker to be presented has not been set. 

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Visiting Europe, Biden Will Find Both Solidarity and Isolation

The president arrived in France for a visit meant to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion and showcase Western unity. But even as he rallies American allies in defense of Ukraine, he will defy them on the war in Gaza.

By Michael D. Shear and Peter Baker

Michael D. Shear and Peter Baker are both in Paris covering President Biden’s trip.

As President Biden visits France this week, he will be rallying European leaders to his side and showcasing the resolve he has helped to foster on behalf of Ukraine.

But he will also be defying the very same leaders and standing virtually alone among Western democracies still firmly in support of Israel as it wages war in Gaza.

Mr. Biden arrived in Paris on Wednesday morning for a trip aimed at celebrating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. It is his first visit to Europe since the Oct. 7 terrorist attack led by Hamas, which killed 1,200 people in Israel and triggered a military retaliation that has killed about 36,000 people in Gaza. Next week he will return to Europe for a summit in Italy with the leaders of the Group of 7 nations, and three weeks after that he will host the 75th anniversary summit of NATO nations in Washington.

The series of meetings will put Mr. Biden in a position he has not experienced since becoming president: He will be embraced and isolated at the same time by the same group of allies he has courted for nearly four years. For a president who has emphasized his support for America’s traditional alliances, it represents a challenge that will test his diplomatic skills in unfamiliar ways.

“Gaza undermines the moral clarity of the argument they want to make about Ukraine,” said Peter Beinart, a professor of journalism and politics at the City University of New York and a longtime analyst of Middle East affairs who has been critical of Israel’s government. “The Gaza war makes that story a lot less compelling to a lot of people.”

Ivo Daalder, who was an ambassador to NATO under President Barack Obama, acknowledged the tension in Mr. Biden’s approach.

“Yes, it seems to be slightly contradictory to be making one argument on Russia and another argument on Israel,” said Mr. Daalder, who now serves as president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. “But the situations are different. One was attacked, and the other did the attacking. It’s pretty big.”

The European allies, with a couple of notable exceptions, have been strongly aligned with Washington for more than two years in the multinational campaign to defeat Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, broadly matching American investments in the war with their own commitments to Kyiv. But the Europeans have grown increasingly critical of how Israel is conducting its operation in Gaza over the past nine months, even as the Biden administration has rejected efforts by the chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court to seek arrest warrants for Israeli leaders on war crime charges.

The disparate priorities will play out at an event on Thursday meant to showcase Western unity and resolve. The D-Day landings at Normandy on June 6, 1944, will be celebrated as a high-water mark of the alliance that defeated Nazi Germany. President Emmanuel Macron of France will host leaders of the World War II partner countries, including King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of Britain and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, representing the two nations that joined the United States in staging the climactic amphibious invasion.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, representing the vanquished enemy, will also attend in a show of Europe’s reconciliation. Not present, however, will be President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, despite the Soviet Union’s alliance with the West during the war. Mr. Macron’s government initially invited lower-level Russian representatives to participate but rescinded the offer after objections stemming from Moscow’s aggression in Ukraine.

By contrast, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine will attend the ceremony, an opportunity for him to press Western leaders for more aid. White House officials said on Tuesday that Mr. Biden would meet with Mr. Zelensky while in France and then again during the G7 gathering in Italy.

John F. Kirby, a White House spokesman, said Mr. Biden knew that not every nation agrees with his policies. “Disagreements with allies and partners is not something new to President Biden,” Mr. Kirby said, “any more than unity and cooperation and collaboration, which he also fosters across a range of issues.”

The meetings between Mr. Biden and the allies come at a critical moment in both Europe and the Middle East. Ukraine is trying to fend off an escalating Russian offensive that threatens to break through its eastern defenses in a decisive way after two years of grinding combat. Hundreds of miles away, Israel and Hamas are both under pressure to agree to a cease-fire deal that could be the final chance for a path toward a more sustainable peace in the region.

Mr. Biden on Friday outlined such a cease-fire agreement that would eventually lead to the release of all hostages held by Hamas, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a “permanent” end to the war. By advancing a deal that Europeans can support, the president may have found a way to minimize differences when he is in Paris.

The Group of 7 nations, including the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, issued a statement on Monday endorsing the deal that Mr. Biden outlined and calling on Hamas to accept it. Mr. Biden characterized the deal as a proposal put forward by Israel but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not explicitly endorsed or rejected it publicly as he navigates his own domestic politics and seeks advantage in any renewed negotiations with Hamas.

At the same time, Mr. Biden addressed another difficult issue before the trip by authorizing Ukraine for the first time to use U.S.-provided weapons against targets inside Russia for self-defense in limited circumstances, something France, Britain, Germany, Poland and other allies had already embraced .

“The only way out of such a dilemma is to push ahead on both problems — help Ukraine do better or win and get Israel on a path to peace,” said Dan Fried, a retired diplomat now at the Atlantic Council in Washington. “Hence the decision to lift some restrictions on Ukraine’s use of U.S. arms and to push a complex and ambitious peace plan” in Gaza.

Still, the differences remain real and stark. Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognized an independent Palestinian state last week, just days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt its military offensive in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza. Most European governments have endorsed the war crimes action against Israel at the International Criminal Court. “France supports the International Criminal Court, its independence and the fight against impunity in all situations,” the country’s foreign ministry said in a statement .

France has not acted to recognize a Palestinian state but did vote in the United Nations in May to support including Palestine as a full member of the organization. Britain, which is no longer a part of the European Union, abstained from that vote.

Critics of Mr. Biden said he has no one to blame for his diplomatic challenges in Europe but himself for an inconsistent approach to international crises.

“The contradiction, I think, is in American policy,” said Peter Rough, the director of the Center on Europe and Eurasia at the Hudson Institute and a former aide to President George W. Bush. “In Ukraine, he’s backing Ukraine against the Russian-Iranian alliance, while in Gaza he is managing Israel, even limiting it, as it confronts an Iranian proxy.”

From the other side of the spectrum, some foreign policy veterans said Mr. Biden has brought troubles upon himself by being too supportive of Israel.

“I am not at all sure that Biden has made the right choices on Israel-Gaza, although I acknowledge that he’s in a tough spot, as is our country,” said Eric Rubin, a longtime U.S. diplomat and the former president of the American Foreign Service Association. “Israel has lost the sympathy of most other countries and their citizens, and we won’t see it get it back in our lifetimes, I fear.”

But at the end of the day, some diplomats said, France and the other allies ultimately defer to the United States when it comes to such issues. And even though he will find them on different pages, Mr. Biden enjoys a constructive relationship with his peers, unlike his predecessor, and possible successor, Donald J. Trump, who berated European allies over their disagreements and left them dreading his potential return to office.

“The United States still plays the indispensable role,” said Mr. Daalder. “Everybody is looking to us to figure out how do we deal with Russia, how do we deal with China, and frankly even how do we deal with Israel. We’re still looked at by our friends and by our adversaries as the ones who will determine the outcome.”

Michael D. Shear is a White House correspondent for The New York Times, covering President Biden and his administration. He has reported on politics for more than 30 years. More about Michael D. Shear

Peter Baker is the chief White House correspondent for The Times. He has covered the last five presidents and sometimes writes analytical pieces that place presidents and their administrations in a larger context and historical framework. More about Peter Baker

Inside the Biden Administration

Here’s the latest news and analysis from washington..

Artificial Intelligence:  The Justice Department and the F.T.C. reached a deal that allows them to proceed with antitrust investigations  into the dominant roles that Microsoft, OpenAI and Nvidia play in the A.I. industry.

Immigration:  President Biden issued an executive order  that prevents migrants from seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border when crossings surge, a dramatic election-year move  to ease pressure on the immigration system.

Israel and Ukraine:  Biden has promised to support the two countries for as long as it takes. Both their wars appear to be at critical turning points .

Attacks on Justice Dept.:  Attorney General Merrick Garland lashed out at House Republicans , accusing them of seeking to undermine the rule of law, peddling “conspiracy theories” and spreading falsehoods.

‘Corporate Offender’ Registry:  The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a plan to create a public registry  of nonbank businesses that have been penalized for violating consumer protection laws.