Bragernes Torg

Bragernes torg is the main square in Drammen, it consists of three city blocks that stretch all the way from the river up to the tower buildings, formerly Bragernes fire station and Drammen town hall. Bragernes Torg was in 2004 reopened after a renovation project that had taken place for approx. 15 years. The last phase was the new public transport hub, work on this took approx. 1 year.
== Attractions and activities ==
«The ski sprint» is an annual World Cup sprint race in Drammen. The race runs from the lower part of Bragernes square to the back of Bragernes church. The race was held for the first time in 2003, the organizer of the race was named "Marketer of the Year 2003" in 2004.
«Elvefestivalen» (River Festival) is an annual music festival in Drammen, which was first organized in 1995 to celebrate that the Drammen river had become clean. The festival normally consists of a concert area, fairground, sales stalls and water activities.
== History ==
Bragernes has for many hundreds of years been the central place for trade in Drammen, at least on the north side of the Drammen river. In the years 1853 and 1854 came the first major increase of the square, it grew from 23 metres to 60 metres. The main reason why Bragernes square is Norway's largest square, and one of the largest in the Nordic region, is the great town fire at Bragernes in 1866.
=== Sankt Hallvard's well ===
Sankt Hallvard's well (Sankt Hallvards brønn) is a fountain by Ørnulf Bast, it was built in 1952, and placed in the centre of Bragernes Torg.
=== Bragernes Torg outdoor stage ===
The outdoor stage at Bragernes Torg from 2003, is made of natural stone. The roof is known as the "square sail" and originally received a lot of criticism, but has nevertheless become a permanent fixture every summer.
== Buildings around the square ==
Bragernes torg 1, Building from 1973-74. The site formerly housed the «Grand Hotel», designed by architect Christian Fredrik Arbo and built in 1909. The hotel was demolished after a fire in 1970.
Bragernes torg 1A, «Rostockgården», designed by architect Bjarne Thinn Syvertsen and built 1935/36. The building is named after the Hans Jørgen Rostock (1820-1895).
Bragernes torg 2, «Capjonggården», is a three-storey commercial building in Italian Renaissance style built after the great city fire in 1866. The building is named after merchant and shipowner Antoni Capjon.
Bragernes torg 2A, Cinema building. The cinema is Norway's 5th largest and has 6 halls named after the former cinemas Saga, Snorre, Palads, Perfekt, Cordial and Kosmorama.
Bragernes torg 3A, Small building on the square. The building houses Tourist Information.
Bragernes torg 3B, Small building on the square. Flower sale.
Bragernes torg 4, «Torghallen», from 1965, designed by "Ragnar Anker Nilsen and Arne Grenager architects".
Bragernes torg 5, Bank.
Bragernes torg 6, «Brannvakta» (fire station) Bragernes torg, built 1866.
Bragernes torg 7, Drammen town hall from 1871, designed by architect Niels Stockfleth Darre Eckhoff. The town hall contained the town council chamber, courtroom, police guard and detention facilities.
Bragernes torg 8, «Bøhmgården», built in 1860 and rebuilt in the 1980s.
Bragernes torg 9, «Bøhmgården», Goggen and Pigen.
Bragernes torg 10, «Bøhmgården», Brask and Bramm.
Bragernes torg 11, DNB Bank has been located here for a number of years, the bank has an entrance from Bragernes torg and «Amtmand Bloms gate».
Bragernes torg 12, «Emil Jensen gården», designed by "Ragnar Anker Nilsen and Arne Grenager arkitekter". Business building on 5 floors established by Emil Jensen & Co.
Bragernes torg 12A, Small building on the square. The building houses a kiosk.
Bragernes torg 13, «Børsen» from 1869 by architect Emil Victor Langlet. Today it houses McDonald's and «Magasinet shopping mall».
Bragernes torg 15, Public toilet on the square.
Category:Geography of Norway by city
Category:Drammen