BERGENSBANEN The fascinating journey on the famous Bergensbanen begins in Norway's capital city of Oslo which contains a large variety of interesting historic buildings that are well worth a visit. Indeed, the city originated in the middle of the eleventh century during the reign of King Harald Hårdråde. For almost a century Norway was part of Sweden and in 1905 a referendum put an end to its unpopular union and Norway achieved its Independence. The construction of the railroad posed a major challenge for the engineers of that time and its construction took many years. The first section of today's Bergensbanen was completed in 1883 and extended from Bergen to Voss. On its journey to Bergen the Bergensbanen travels across the highest plateau in Europe, the eight thousand square kilometre, Hardangervidda. At one thousand two hundred and twenty two metres above sea level Finse is the Bergensbanen's highest station and was opened in 1909 when Norway's King Hakon was one of the first passengers to travel on the new railroad. The journey on the Bergensbanen not only travels through one of the most charming and natural landscapes in Europe it also features the history of Norway: a unique adventure indeed!