The coast of Bergen was strategically important during World War II. The history of this period is now being told to new generations at interesting museums across the region.
Driving time:
Bergen – North Sea Traffic Museum: 36 km, 45–50 minutes.
Bergen - Herdla Museum: 40 km, 45 minutes.
Bergen – Bjørn West Museum: 85 km, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Season: Check the opening times of each museum:North Sea Traffic Museum, Herdla Museum, Bjørn West Museum.
Map to the museums.
North Sea Traffic – hazardous journeys across the North Sea
During the war, crossing the North Sea was punishable by death. Nonetheless, many people made the hazardous journey to reach safety in the UK. Some of them were being persecuted by the Nazi regime, others wished to join the Allied Forces and fight for Norway’s freedom. The resistance fighting in Norway would not have been possible without these secret and hazardous operations. The North Sea Traffic exhibition provides an insight into the fate of the people who fought in the resistance along the coast, including in Telavåg. They risked a great deal to make the North Sea Traffic possible.
Unfortunately, this ended in tragedy for the people of Telavåg. A visit to the North Sea Traffic Museum in Telavåg is recommended to learn about the resistance fighting that took place in the Bergen region. A film is shown, which has English and German subtitles, and an audio guide is available in Norwegian, English and German. The museum has a shop and a café with spectacular views of the sea. The museum is surrounded by fantastic walking trails, and you can download the ‘Telavåg 1942’ app which will guide you around the sites where the events took place in Telavåg during the war.
‘Festung Norwegen’
The Nazi regime wished to be able to defend itself against an Allied invasion. During World War II, a line of defence was built from France in the south to Kirkenes in the far north of Norway. It was known as the ‘Atlantikwall’ in German. ‘Festung Norwegen’ was a part of this network. Fjell Fortress was the biggest fortress in Western Norway. It was built between 1942 and 1945 to protect the seaward approach to Bergen. Today, it is a lovely and interesting area for walks, and you can enjoy panoramic views of Sotra and the islands to the west. The fortress itself is not open to the public. At www.digitalfestning.no, you can download an app that provides information about the history of the fortress.
A well preserved wreck of a Focke Wulf 190 may be view at Herdla Museum.
The airport on Herdla
The moraine island of Herdla is situated on the far side of Askøy. Herdla Museum has recently opened a brand new building that houses, among other things, the wreckage of a Focke Wulf 190 – one of the most legendary WWII fighter planes. An airport was built on Herdla during the war to protect Bergen and to attack Allied convoys along the coast of Norway. Until just a few years ago, Herdla torpedo battery was a top-secret defence facility. Today the fully equipped battery is protected as cultural heritage, and you can join one of our guided tours which takes you back in time to the Cold War. You can also enjoy ‘svele’ pancakes and a cup of coffee in the museum café after a walk in the fantastic landscape.
The story of Bjørn West is dramatic and exciting. The resistance group hided in the Matre mountains in Masfjorden, Nordhordland.
Bjørn West – resistance fighting in the Matrefjellene mountains
The story of Bjørn West is dramatic and exciting. Some of the last action of the war in Europe took place in this area in May 1945. The base in the Matrefjellene mountains was a regular military camp subordinate to the high command of the Norwegian Armed Forces in London. Its purpose was to establish a large force to assist in the liberation of Norway. Towards the end of April and early May, dramatic fighting took place between the Bjørn West forces and the German forces.
Learn about the dramatic history of this period at the Bjørn West Museum in Matre. The museum is situated in spectacular walking terrain in the beautiful Stølsheimen mountains, and makes for a great day trip from Bergen.
War history in central Bergen:
In the center of Bergen you can visit the Gestapo Museum. Primarily open in the summer.
20 minutes south of Bergen you can find Espeland prison camp, also primarily open in the summer.
Find more suggestions for day trips by car from Bergen.
to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
