Augustin Hotel
Bergen Norway
History of Augustin Hotel
Augustin is now the oldest family-run full-service hotel in Bergen. The hotel, built in
1909 in Jugend style, passed into the hands of the present family ten years later, and is
now run by the fourth generation. Its 1995 extension increased capacity from 36 to 87
rooms.
One of the city's oldest taverns, the Altona (c. 1600) used to stand on the site of the
present hotel. The Altona was long renowned as a base for Bergen artists and musicians,
and concert-master Ole Rødder and other luminaries of the 1700s were regularly to be
found here. Musikselskabet Harmonien, Bergen's venerable orchestra, used to rehearse
there, as for some periods did the theatre company Det Dramatiske Selskab. Other memories
of those days may be seen in the hotel's winecellar, which dates from the 1600s. This is
now being renovated and will be open to the public in 1997.
The hotel's new wing, however, brings you back to the modern age. Running a hotel is a
matter of continuous improvement and adaptation to contemporary demands. The new rooms have
all the modern facilities and comfort, and the interior has been designed by the young
Bergen architect Aud Hunskår. She has won several prizes, including the Norwegian Design
diploma in 1993. Special doors with intarsia work are the first things you see, while both
rooms and bathrooms show that the interior architect has concerned herself with both the
practical and aesthetic aspects.
Art makes for atmosphere. The hotel's collection includes many masterpieces of
contemporary Norwegian art; guest-rooms and common spaces are decorated with original
works of graphic art, paintings and sculptures. |
Location:
Centrally situated in the shopping and harbor area. Some rooms have a view of the
harbor. Walking distance to Bergen city center sights such as the Aquarium, Fish market
and Fløibanen funicular. 1 km to the railway station, 300 meters to the express-boat
terminal and 10 km to Bergen Airport (Flesland).
The prize-winning restaurant on the ground floor, Kjøbmandsstuen (the Merchants'
Rooms), in an intimate and rustic style, is fully-licensed. The chef offers a rich and
varied à la carte menu of fish specialities and grill dishes.
Augustin Hotel also includes two popular restaurants in central Bergen's biggest shopping centre, Galleriet: Augustus Conditori & Lunchsalon and Spiskammerset
(the Larder).
Health, safety and
working environment are vital for both guests and employees.
The hotel has rooms for both allergy-suffers and wheelchair users - and more
than half the rooms are non-smoking. The Norwegian Technological Institute has
helped the hotel undertake an environmental audit, an important tool for the
choice of environmental alternatives wherever they exist. We want to be a
greener company and have this strategy realized in all the decisions large and
small that our staff take every day. Safety for guests and employees is the
first priority. The hotel has therefore recently invested in the latest
fire-alarm technology, directly connected to the main fire station, a mere three
minutes away.
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