Bergen Courthouse

You’re now standing on Tårnplassen square, in front of the Bergen Courthouse. At the entrance, you’ll see four statues, each three metres tall, representing the four cardinal virtues. The first is Wisdom, the second Justice, the third Temperance, and the fourth Fortitude. These four virtues go back to Antiquity, they were seen as the pillars of a virtuous life. Later, Christianity added three theological virtues: Faith, Charity, and Hope. Together, these seven virtues form a moral ideal contrasting the seven deadly sins. The courthouse was built in 1928 in an eclectic architectural style. The main structure is inspired by the symmetry and elegance of the Italian Renaissance, while the tall arched windows and dramatic columns hint at neo-Gothic influence. Look up, and you’ll spot four griffins, mythical creatures with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle, standing guard at the entrance to ward off evil.