Lepramuseet St. Jorgens Hospital - Bymuseet I Bergen

About

The Leprosy Museum – St. Jørgen’s Hospital offers a moving journey through the history of leprosy in Norway and the broader evolution of public health. Set in a preserved 18th‑century hospital building that has survived centuries of fires and urban change, the museum’s rooms are kept largely as they were when the last patients stayed there in 1946. Visitors wander down to the herb garden, explore the well‑preserved wards, and experience the stark reality of a disease that was once feared, misunderstood and stigmatized. From the basement below the church to the grand main ward, each space tells a story of scientific discovery—most famously the identification of the Hansen bacillus by Bergen doctor Gerhard Armauer Hansen in 1873—and of the human dignity of those who lived and survived in the hospital. On anniversaries the museum hosts special exhibitions, such as the 150‑year remembrance of the discovery of the leprosy bacillus. Guided tours, available in Norwegian and English, are offered in multiple languages, and the museum’s educational programs are tailored to school and university audiences. Admission is free for children under 18, while adults pay a modest entrance fee. Groups receive a 20 % discount for 15 or more participants. The museum is open daily from 11:00 to 15:00 during the season, and a closed‑season period runs from 18 May to 6 September each year.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 1 hour 30 minutes

Tickets & pricing