Lepramuseet St. Jørgens Hospital

About the museum

St. Jørgens Hospital has stood in Bergen since the early 15th century. After several major town fires nothing remains of the medieval hospital, but the buildings standing here today are protected and form a well-preserved 18th-century hospital ensemble. The church and the main building with bedrooms and kitchen have to a large extent remained unchanged since the last two residents died in 1946, after living here for more than 50 years.

Bergen is a central place in the history of leprosy. In 1873 the Bergen physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen identified the leprosy bacillus, an international breakthrough for leprosy research and for medicine in general. In many countries the disease is therefore called Hansen’s disease. A large-scale effort in research and health work put Bergen on the world map.

The hospital’s archives are part of the Leprosy Archives in Bergen, which are on UNESCO’s Memory of the World programme. The museum shows the permanent exhibition in the main building and tells individual stories through printed sources and archive material. It also addresses how illness leads to social isolation and stigmatisation, which remains a challenge wherever the disease is widespread.

In 2023, 150 years since the leprosy bacterium was discovered were marked with an exhibition that can still be visited. The museum is run by Bymuseet i Bergen, and visitors can walk around on their own or join a guided tour. The museum also has a herb garden, which is open during opening hours.

Highlights

• Main building with bedrooms and kitchen, almost unchanged since 1946
• The hospital church and the protected 18th-century buildings
• The exhibition on the discovery of the leprosy bacillus in 1873
• The Leprosy Archives on UNESCO’s Memory of the World register
• Herb garden open during opening hours

Permanent exhibitions

• Fast utstilling i hovedbygningen – The exhibition tells of leprosy in Norway, life at the hospital and the research that put Bergen on the world map.
• Oppdagelsen av leprabakterien 150 år – The exhibition from 2023 shows how Armauer Hansen discovered the leprosy bacterium in Bergen in 1873, and the conditions and challenges of that work.

Founded

1856

Operated by

Stiftelsen Bymuseet i Bergen

Admission & discounts

Members of Bymuseet and holders of a volunteer card (frivillighetskort) enter free of charge. BT Fordel gives 25 per cent off for up to two adults (NOK 130). The museum is not part of the Bergenskortet.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Parts of the museum are adapted for wheelchair users.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kids

The museum suits adults and older children or young people accompanied by an adult.

Getting there & parking

The museum is a three-minute walk from the railway station.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available

The museum has no catering. Barbecuing and open fire are prohibited in the garden and the courtyard.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit