Gamle Stavanger

Stavanger, Norway

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Gamle Stavanger, located in Stavanger, Norway, is one of the country’s best-preserved historic neighborhoods and is famous for its charming collection of white wooden houses dating mainly from the 18th and 19th centuries.

The area contains around 170 to 250 restored buildings, making it one of the largest concentrations of preserved wooden houses in Northern Europe. Situated near the harbor, the district features narrow cobblestone streets, small gardens, galleries, and museums, creating a peaceful atmosphere that contrasts with the modern city around it.

Unlike an open-air museum, many of the houses are still private homes, giving the area a lived-in and authentic character. The neighborhood was saved from demolition in the 1950s through local preservation efforts and has since become one of Stavanger’s most popular attractions, celebrated for its history, architecture, and unique glimpse into traditional Norwegian urban life.