Vågsallmenningen Square, Bergen

Opposite the market is Vågsallmenningen Square, which was created after a fire in 1582 as a protective strip between the market and the town hall and was called Rådstueallmenningen (literally "public space at the town hall"). The current name was taken over in 1702 from the neighboring square, when it was renamed Torgallmenningen.

In the center of the square is a monument to Ludvig Holberg, a prominent Norwegian-Danish writer of the Enlightenment, rationalist and satirist. Holberg was born in Bergen and left without parents at the age of ten, but he received an excellent education, completing a course in theology at the University of Copenhagen, then studied for two years at Oxford. The future writer earned his living and education by giving private lessons in foreign languages and music. Holbelberg traveled a lot in Europe, mostly on foot, visiting libraries, museums and universities, getting acquainted with folk life. After writing several historical and philosophical works, in 1708 he received the title of professor at the University of Copenhagen. In the field of literature, Holberg proved himself as a poet and playwright. Holberg's poetry was satirical in nature, at first it was parodies of Homer, ridiculing the provincial customs of Denmark in the time of Frederick IV. As a playwright, Holberg became known as the Danish Moliere, creating a lot of comedies about the life of Copenhagen's inhabitants, the names of which speak for themselves: Miniature fools, Always busy slacker, Tinker politician, Haughty nobleman without a penny. Thanks to his works, Danish literature has become known in other countries. Literary work brought Holberg a good income, but at the same time the writer led a modest life, and invested in the purchase of estates, the proceeds of which he bequeathed to the state academy in Seurat, where his crypt is now located. The monument was opened on December 3, 1884 in honor of the bicentennial of the birth of the writer, author John Börjeson.

The southern border of the square is formed by the stock exchange building (Børsbygningen), built in 1862 by Franz Wilhelm Schiertz (Franz Wilhelm Schiertz) in the neo-Renaissance style. Stock trading was held here until the sixties of the twentieth century, now the building is occupied by the Bergen Børs Hotel.

On the other side of the square there are several buildings of various eras and styles, and the eastern part of the square is occupied by the art gallery KRAFT Bergen, where you can get acquainted with the products of modern artisans, as well as buy them.

During the summer season, there is a brisk trade in souvenirs, handicrafts and tourist accessories on the square.