Gamlehaugen

About the museum

Gamlehaugen is a castle-like mansion beside Nordåsvatnet in Fana. Shipowner and politician Christian Michelsen, who later became prime minister and led Norway through the dissolution of the union in 1905, bought the property in 1898, demolished the old farmhouse and commissioned architect Jens Zetlitz Monrad Kielland to design a new villa. The house was completed around 1900 and is characterised by Art Nouveau (Jugendstil), historicism and Scottish hunting castles. The park was laid out in the English landscape style with the help of gardener Olav Moen.

Michelsen died in 1925. Friends and supporters collected money from across the country to buy the property and give it to the state as a national estate. Since 1927 Gamlehaugen has been the royal family’s residence in Bergen, and the ground floor was opened as a museum. Statsbygg manages the estate.

The building consists of a private section for the royal family and a museum section, and only the museum section is open for tours in the summer season. Since 2016 Statsbygg has restored the house as it was in Michelsen’s time, with new render and decorative mouldings around the windows, and the work on the interiors of the museum section was due to be completed in 2025. The house holds a large art collection and furniture in several styles, and Michelsen’s office has many memories of 1905. The park is open to the public and is a popular area for walks, with a bathing place on Nordåsvannet.

Highlights

• The King’s residence in Bergen, in Art Nouveau and Scottish castle style
• Guided tour of the museum section with Christian Michelsen’s office
• English landscape park with lime avenue and rhododendrons
• Bathing place and walking area at Nordåsvannet

Permanent exhibition

• Museumsdelen i Gamlehaugen – The reception rooms of the house are furnished as they were in Christian Michelsen’s time, including the hall, dining room, salon and Michelsen’s office, and display art and furniture from several style periods.

Founded

1927

Operated by

Statsbygg

Admission & discounts

Tickets must be bought in advance online. Remaining tickets can be bought five minutes before the tour. Changes to a booking must be made at least five days before the tour, and tickets are not refunded. Admission to the park is free.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Children enter free but must have a ticket.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

Toilets are located by the greenhouse down in the park.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit