The UNESCO World Heritage List contains areas or objects that constitute an irreplaceable component of the world's cultural or natural heritage. The World Heritage Convention was drawn up in 1972 to provide special protection to sites whose universal value qualifies them for preservation as part of the world heritage for future generations. Norway ratified the convention in 1977, and there are four Norwegian sites on the list.
Bryggen in Bergen
During the later middle Ages, Bryggen (the wharf) in Bergen was a centre of lively international commercial activity. The characteristic rows of parallel, gabled houses facing the sea display a style of architecture that has been maintained for a period of close to 900 years. The properties on Bryggen were composed of one or two long rows of houses with a common passageway. They were combined dwelling and storage houses. Each property had a dock area of its own with a storehouse and a luffing-jib crane. Only at the beginning of the 20th century did the traditional use of the Bryggen area come to an end. With the advent of changes in commercial relations and new means of communication, a way of life lasting 700-800 years ceased to exist.
Mining Town of Røros
The structure and the built-up area of the town reflect the basis for the community's existence, which was agriculture and mining. Mining in Røros started in 1644, and the mines were in continuous operation until 1977. The settlement grew up around the Hitterelva River, which provided power for the copper works. Most of the town burned down in 1678 and again in 1679. City planners kept the square-grid renaissance pattern of the town streets when the town was rebuilt. The built-up area of Røros has evolved slowly and without further drama, and the town’s buildings illustrate developments from the 1700s to today.
Rock Carvings of Alta
The sites at Alta contain a significant collection of carvings, offering visitors insight into the lives of people and their conception of the world over 6000 years ago. The first rock carvings in this area were discovered by accident in 1973. Since then, some 3 000 rock carvings have been found at five different sites. These depictions were created over a long period of time. The oldest drawings were carved in the rock over 6 200 years ago, while the youngest date back 2 500 years old.
Urnes Stave Church
Urnes Stave Church occupies a unique place among the 28 remaining stave churches in Norway in terms of its architecture as well as its style history. The church was built during the second half of the 1100s as a private church for a powerful family in Urnes, and is one of Norway’s oldest and best-preserved stave churches. Its fine wooden carvings testify to the skill of the craftsmen who built it, and its interior is unusually richly decorated. The builders were clearly aware of current international trends in architecture, cleverly transferring these from stone to wood.
The Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage