When urbanisation came to Bergen
One of Norway’s oldest royal estates from the Viking Age, Alrekstaðir, was situated where the current city of Bergen is now. Kings such as Harold Fairhair (Harald Hårfagre), Haakon the Good (Håkon den gode) and Olav Kyrre ruled the country from this location for long periods of time. The city of Bergen was founded by Olav Kyrre in 1070, and at the same time the city became the new capital of Norway – and remained so until 1314. Even if Kristiania (Oslo) replaced Bergen as the capital, it was nevertheless the largest city in Norway until the 1830's and kept its position as the country's most important centre of trade and an international city until modern times. Today, Bergen is Norway’s number one tourist attraction.
The city, from the 14th century until around 1750, was part of the Hanseatic League and its trading network which included the whole of Northern Europe, something which Bryggen (the Warf) is a reminder of.
Bergen grew substantially during the period from 1880 to 1910. In the upper part of Nygårdshøyden, where Hotel Park is situated today, a number of Victorian villas and estates were built in a style which was inspired by Berlin, Copenhagen and Stockholm. The further up one came on Nygårdshøyden the more decorated and flamboyant the buildings were, in more exclusive and lighter streets. Around 1890 the area around Nygård Park was mainly inhabited by the well-to-do upper class elite of city.
Hotel Park is located on Harald Hårfagresgate, just by Nygård Park. The main building was erected in 1890 and was the residence of one of the city’s most prominent families. In 1897 the house was bought by the consul Conrad Mohr (1849-1926) and remained in this family until 1974. The Mohr family were close friends of Edvard Grieg and his wife Nina. During a long period of time around the turn of the century, Consul Conrad Mohr and Edvard Grieg were both involved in plans to create a concert hall in Bergen. This plan, however, took a long time to be realised and Bergen's concert hall "Grieghallen" (the Grieg Hall) and was not completed until 1978, a long time after these two gentlemen had passed away. The Grieg Hall is located in the lower parts of Nygård, just below Hotel Park.
The house on Harald Hårfagresgate was, throughout the 20th century, a home for single women. It was run by the “Agnete Mohrs Minde” foundation. The building has been a hotel since 1974. The Klohs family took over the hotel in 1979 and have not only left their mark on the hotel, but have also managed to preserve the historical character of the building both inside and outside.
The building that is located on the other side of the street was built in 1880 by the merchant Eilert Engelsen, who with his wife, their 6 children and their various maids, inhabited the property for a long period of time. In more recent times the building has been owned by the University of Bergen and in 1997 the Klohs family acquired it, as part of the natural expansion of their hotel business in the main building. The building was totally renovated and decorated in a modern Scandinavian style with light and pleasant rooms. There is also a suite on the top floor of this building, for those who prefer a little more comfort during a long or short stay.
Today, Hotel Park is a member of “De Historiske Hotell og Spisesteder” (“Historic Hotels and Restaurants”). This association includes manor houses, mansions, estates, large and small wooden hotels in Swiss and Jugend styles, old coaching inns which have been converted into small romantic hotels and much more. This, along with the passion for hosting, is first and foremost what characterises “De Historiske!”