Are Norway's fjords worth a trip?

DW (English)

We often hear that you have to have seen Norway’s fjords at least once in your lifetime.

Transcript

00:00 Welcome to Bergen, Norway.

00:02 The city is known as the heart of the fjords

00:05 and is used by many tourists as a base

00:07 to explore Norway's natural wonders.

00:09 Today, I'm taking you with me on a stunning fjord cruise.

00:12 All of this is just unbelievable.

00:16 We'll look at Bergen's most Instagram-famous spot,

00:20 find out what a fjord is,

00:22 and show you some of the most stunning nature

00:24 you have ever seen.

00:25 When you search for images of Bergen,

00:28 you'll discover Bryggen,

00:30 a picturesque wharf with colorful wooden buildings

00:33 and historic brick houses

00:35 with connections to the Hanseatic League,

00:37 a powerful trading alliance from the Middle Ages.

00:39 The Hanseatic Wharf of Bryggen is the city's oldest area.

00:44 It used to be a key center for trade

00:46 between Norway and Europe,

00:47 and today it's a vibrant area full of shops,

00:50 museums, galleries, and restaurants.

00:52 How cute are these wooden houses?

00:55 I don't know if you can see it,

00:57 but these houses are so old that they're slanted.

00:59 I am right at Bergen's harbor area,

01:09 where various cruise options and departure points

01:12 make it an accessible way for tourists

01:14 to experience Norway's iconic fjords.

01:16 Today, I'm meeting with Arild from Guided Fjord Tours,

01:25 who will be joining me.

01:27 You know, the Germans had a monopoly here

01:29 from about 1350 up to the 1700s.

01:34 The German Hanseatic merchants are the reason

01:38 why Bergen's port became such an important hub

01:41 for trade and fishing.

01:42 Today, it is Norway's second largest seaport

01:45 and one of the most popular cruise destinations

01:47 in Northern Europe.

01:48 There are plenty of offers,

01:51 including cruises that last several days

01:54 and cost hundreds of euros,

01:56 but I recommend this smaller four-hour trip

01:58 to see the fjords.

02:00 It is available year-round for 750 Norwegian crowns

02:03 or about 63 euros per person.

02:06 So, could you tell me, what exactly is a fjord anyway?

02:09 - A fjord is an opening in the bedrock.

02:14 It is filled with water,

02:16 and it's been created by ice, sand, boulders, stones,

02:21 all types of sediments,

02:23 but it differs.

02:25 The shape, like a U, is usually created

02:28 by the heavy ice cap.

02:31 About 10 to 12,000 years ago,

02:33 whole Norway was covered by ice.

02:36 - This catamaran is taking us up

02:39 the 27-kilometer Osterfjord in the northeast of Bergen,

02:43 one of the most popular fjord tours.

02:46 The fjord is surrounded by steep mountains,

02:48 lush greenery, and cascading waterfalls.

02:51 Here, you can really take in the varied landscapes

02:54 of western Norway's fjords.

02:55 - This fjord is like a U.

02:59 You can just imagine the bottom of it.

03:01 - Breathtaking, but the highlight is still yet to come.

03:06 - This part here that we're going through

03:10 is like the narrowest part of the tour,

03:14 and it's called the Mostraumund Strait.

03:16 - In a few seconds,

03:19 we are about to see something really impressive.

03:22 The Mostraumund Waterfall.

03:48 Now, we are heading back to Bergen the same way

03:50 and can really absorb the majestic surroundings once more.

03:53 All of this is just unbelievable, stunning.

04:01 I love it.

04:08 (upbeat music)

04:11 (laughing)

04:13 (upbeat music)

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