Elsesro

Elsesro is a historic estate in the Ytre Sandviken district of Bergen comprising a main mansion, caretaker house, henhouse, and dovecote. These structures sit together as a preserved compound where visitors can explore several different buildings from the period.

A shipyard master from Kristiansand purchased the property in 1784 and initially operated it as a working shipyard. The site later transitioned to become a recreational estate and eventually evolved into the museum complex it is today.

The site functions as a museum space showing how Bergen's wealthier residents lived in earlier times. Visitors can observe the rooms and layout that shaped daily life for the families who once inhabited these buildings.

The grounds are easy to walk through since the buildings are close together and form a connected compound. A traditional Norwegian restaurant operates in the main building, giving visitors a place to rest and eat during their visit.

The property contains a Swiss-style building dating to the 1820s, possibly one of the earliest examples of this architectural approach in all of Norway. This unexpected architectural detail shows how international design influences reached even remote locations.