Stavanger kommune

Traces until 1965
Stavanger’s history has left visible traces which we can still
see today. Individual buildings and areas are witnesses to and
symbols of different phases of development.
King Sigurd Jorsalfar established the Stavanger bishopric in
1125 and this is considered to be the year in which Stavanger
was founded. Stavanger may have been selected because of its
natural harbour, located closest to England. Stavanger became
an ecclesiastic centre, with monastery, school and bishop’s
residence. However, after stagnating for many years, the bishopric
was moved to Kristiansand in 1682 and a bishopric was
not re-established in Stavanger before 1925.
Many of Stavanger’s historical buildings have been lost, due in
part to changes in society’s structure and values. The St. Olav
monastery which lay west of Breivatnet fell into ruin after the
Reformation and all traces were removed in 1577 when the
monastery was used as a stone quarry. After existing for more
than 500 years, the latin school was demolished in 1842. The
Maria church was used as the town hall and finally a fire station,
before it was pulled down in 1883.
However, the cause of the greatest destruction historically has
been fire. Most of the buildings were timber and fires were
catastrophic. Between 1633 and 1833, large parts of the town
were burnt to the ground as many as seven times.
Eastern facade of the cathedral. Photo: C.J. Jacobsen, ca 1910
TRACES UNTIL 1965
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