# Damsgård Manor

- **Country:** Norway
- **Coordinates:** 60.383325, 5.302111
- **Location Text:** Bergen

Damsgård Manor is a historic estate located in Laksevåg, Bergen, Norway, widely recognized as one of the finest examples of Rococo architecture in Northern Europe. Completed around 1770 under the direction of Joachim Christian Geelmuyden Gyldenkrantz, the manor holds unique significance as possibly the best-preserved wooden building from 18th-century Europe. Its architectural design features a distinctive facade that exaggerates the structure's dimensions, including painted windows added to create perfect symmetry. The interior layout has been meticulously restored to reflect its original early 18th-century plan, showcasing the evolution of the house through different historical eras while maintaining its status as a rare wooden Rococo landmark.

The site possesses a rich history dating back to at least 1427 when it was listed as church property, though the area was likely populated during the Viking Age. After changing hands following the Reformation and serving as a year-round farm, the estate underwent its most transformative period in the late 1700s when the main house was reoriented to face the maritime approach to Bergen. Following the death of Gyldenkrantz, the wealthy Janson family acquired the property and held ownership until 1983, making only minor external changes while thoroughly renovating the interiors. This long period of private stewardship helped preserve the building's integrity before it entered public care.

Today, Damsgård Manor is managed by the Bergen Museum after a comprehensive ten-year restoration effort conducted in collaboration with the Directorate for Cultural Heritage in Norway. The estate now serves as a protected cultural heritage site and museum, offering visitors a glimpse into aristocratic life in historic Norway. In addition to the main house, the grounds feature three distinct gardens, including the symmetric Master's garden and the Mistress's garden, which were restored to their 18th-century state in 1998 with expert guidance from botanists at the University of Bergen to ensure historical accuracy in plant selection.

![Photo of Damsgård Manor](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Damsgaard.hoved.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damsgård_Manor (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)