About the Muséhagen

History

Muséhagen is a protected, old botanical garden which houses a collection of about 3,000 different species. As well as providing a beautiful public space, Muséhagen is also there for research, dissemination and teaching.

Established in 1987, it was originally the University of Bergen’s botanical garden, before the garden was expanded upon in a new location at Milde, in 1996. Today it serves as a ‘green lung’ for Bergens inhabitants and visitors. It’s an exhibition of living plants by the University Museum of Bergen, and was origially created as an extention of the indoor collection.

Muséhagen was built between 1897-1899 to the specifications of conservator Dr.Jørgen Brunchorst, who later became the director at the University Museum of Bergen. At that time the design consisted of rounded flower beds, lawns and hedges which the locals referred to as “Brunchorst’s heart and kidneys”. Today, only the northernmost part of the old garden remained of this layout. In 1901 the plant house was build, it also encountered some renovation and extension work and is today closed due to need of maintenance work that needs to be done before it can be opened again. This emphasizes the “work in progress” charackter that remained ever since the beginning. The garden evolves along with its plants, structures and installations.