Bergen has a wonderful open air museum called Gamle Bergen which means Old Bergen. It gives the visitor a rare insight into village life in Norway over the past two hundred years.

You will find it north of the harbour along the coastal road. The address is Nyhavnsveien 4, 5042 Bergen. It is one of the hidden pleasures of any weekend city break to Bergen. It is a reconstructed village that contains over 50 buildings of various shapes and sizes. Many have been rescued from demolition and rebuilt by museum staff and volunteers.

There are old shops, farm houses, workshops, private homes and churches. You can wonder around on your own or go on a guided tour. If you do not have a hire car you can get a taxi or the cheap option is to catch bus number 3,4,5, or 18 from the city centre.

It is just that little bit too far to walk from the city centre. Check opening hours because it is normally closed in the morning. Gates open about 1200 noon and in the winter close about 3pm because of the early nights.

Cobbled streets and brightly painted charming wooden houses make up Gamle Bergen. There is everything from the rich merchants house to the dentists and then the maids quarters to explore. Look out for the gangs of noisy white geese that have free range of the whole museum complex.

Take some old bread or cheap crusty rolls with you when you visit as there is a lovely duck pond in the centre of the village. It doesn't matter how old you are it is still fun to feed the ducks and watch their antics.

Sunday afternoon is a busy day for the Museum as many local families come for a stroll before their Sunday lunch. There is a restaurant in one of the larger restored houses. It is only open in the Summer. Some of the families book a table there so Mum does not have to cook again.

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