Official Opening of the 32nd
Neurodiab Conference 2022
©Visit Bergen / Girish Chouhan
Reception
The King Håkon's Hall
September 16th
18:30 – 20:00
The Mayor of Bergen has the pleasure of inviting you to take part in the
Official Opening of Neurodiab 2022 at The King Håkon's Hall.
(This event is included in your delegate fee)
Departure from your hotel at 17:30 (optional)
We invite you on a guided tour on our way (walking) to this evening's venue. We will be passing the main square of Bergen, the famous Fishmarket and the Hanseatic buildings located on the main wharf, Bryggen, before we arrive at The King Håkon's Hall.
The King Håkon's Hall – A stone hall worthy of a King!
The Håkon's Hall is more than seven hundred and fifty years old and was built by King Håkon Håkonsson between 1247 and 1261 as a Royal residence and feasting hall. When the king’s son Magnus Håkonsson Lagabøte married the Danish Princess Ingeborg in 1261, 2000 guests were hosted in three buildings. “Kings held court in the stone hall”, as the sagas say.
At that time Bergen was Norway's largest and most important city, and Håkon's Hall was the site of major national events, including the promulgation of Norway's first complete set of laws. Within the thick stone walls you can still hear the echoes of the medieval courts solemn ceremonies and riotous feasts. As a site of national heritage, The Håkon's Hall is still in use for Royal dinners and other official occasions.
©Bymuseet Bergen
©Bymuseet Bergen
©Bymuseet Bergen
The hall lost its role as the king's seat when the Royal family moved out of the country in the late Middle Ages. It later served as storeroom and was eventually turned into an ammunition store for the Bergenhus fortress. For a time it was even without a roof.
In 1916 Håkon's Hall was restored for the first time, and its interior was decorated. In 1944 the building was, however, dangerously close to a second collapse, when the Dutch ammunition ship the Voorbode exploded while at anchor in the harbour directly below. Only the walls where left standing.
In the 1950s the hall was again restored, resulting in what we see today both concerning interior and exterior. As a national cultural monument, The Håkon's Hall is still used for both Royal banquets and events, conference venues, receptions and concerts.
To read more about Håkon's Hall, click here.
Kongshirden 1260
During our visit at The Håkon's Hall you will enjoy a visit from Kongshirden 1260. You will be taken back to the Medieval days from the years when Bergen was the capital of Norway and Håkonshallen, The King Håkon's Hall and Rosenkrantztårnet, The Tower of Rosenkrantz was built.
©Kongshirden
©Kongshirden
©Kongshirden
