Bergen Cathedral School ( Norwegian: ''Bergen Katedralskole'',

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power ...

: ''Schola Cathedralis Bergensis'', formerly known as Bergens lærdeskole and Bergen latinskole and colloquially known as Katten) is an

upper secondary school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondar ...

Bergen Bergen (), historically Bjørgvin, is a city and municipality in Vestland county on the west coast of Norway. , its population is roughly 285,900. Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway. The municipality covers and is on the peninsula o ...

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...

. Located in the city centre, next to

Bergen Cathedral Bergen Cathedral ( no, Bergen domkirke) is a cathedral in the city of Bergen in Vestland county, Norway. It is the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Bjørgvin as well as the seat of the "Bergen domkirke" parish and the seat of the Bergen domprosti ...

, the school has about 850 students, 95 full-time teachers, and 5 administration personnel, including the

headmaster A head master, head instructor, bureaucrat, headmistress, head, chancellor, principal or school director (sometimes another title is used) is the staff member of a school with the greatest responsibility for the management of the school. In som ...

, Lise Hårklau Holsen. The school is considered to have been founded in 1153 by Nicholas Breakspear (later Pope Adrian IV), making the school the second oldest in Norway together with Oslo Cathedral School and Hamar Cathedral School, which were founded the same year, one year after the founding of

Trondheim Cathedral School Trondheim Cathedral School ( no, Trondheim katedralskole, Latin: ''Schola Cathedralis Nidrosiensis'') is an upper secondary school located next to the Nidaros Cathedral in the center of Trondheim, Norway. History There is great dispute regarding ...

History

Although the earliest written records documenting the school's existence date back to 1288, Bergen Cathedral School is believed to have been founded in 1153 by Nicholas Breakspear, who became Pope Adrian IV in 1154. It was founded as a theological school for the education of priests. Pupils would start attending the school around the age of seven. Until the school reform in 1806, the school was tied to the church. The school moved to its present location in 1840. The original building is still in use as the offices for the administration, as well as some classrooms. This building also houses the school

library A library is a collection of materials, books or media that are accessible for use and not just for display purposes. A library provides physical (hard copies) or digital access (soft copies) materials, and may be a physical location or a vi ...

. In 1869 the school's

gyms A gymnasium, also known as a gym, is an indoor location for athletics. The word is derived from the ancient Greek term " gymnasium". They are commonly found in athletic and fitness centres, and as activity and learning spaces in educational in ...

were built, and the same year the school changed its name from "Bergen Latinskole" to its present "Bergen katedralskole". The school was independent until 1896, but has been administered by the government since. In 1972, the school was made a regular upper secondary school administered by the county government.

Buildings

A classrooms only building was built in 1957. Another building, containing science laboratories, computer rooms and a

cafeteria A cafeteria, sometimes called a canteen outside the U.S., is a type of food service location in which there is little or no waiting staff table service, whether a restaurant or within an institution such as a large office building or sc ...

was built in 1992. In July 2007, large amounts of mold were discovered in the building from 1840. This led to the building getting closed, resulting in a shortage of teacher

office An office is a space where an organization's employees perform administrative work in order to support and realize objects and goals of the organization. The word "office" may also denote a position within an organization with specific d ...

s. The building contains several old classrooms, an

auditorium An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances. For movie theatres, the number of auditoria (or auditoriums) is expressed as the number of screens. Auditoria can be found in entertainment venues, communit ...

and the

school library A school library (or a school library media center) is a library within a school where students, staff, and often, parents of a public or private school have access to a variety of resources. The goal of the school library media center is to e ...

, which is the oldest library known in Norway. For a while, the school administration considered delaying the start of the term, but this never happened as the teachers and the day-time

adult education Adult education, distinct from child education, is a practice in which adults engage in systematic and sustained self-educating activities in order to gain new forms of knowledge, skills, attitudes, or values.Merriam, Sharan B. & Brockett, Ralp ...

classes ended up moving into temporary barracks in the schoolyards of Bergen Cathedral School and Tanks Upper Secondary School. In February 2008, it was decided that the building will be

renovated Renovation (also called remodeling) is the process of improving broken, damaged, or outdated structures. Renovations are typically done on either commercial or residential buildings. Additionally, renovation can refer to making something new, ...

at a price of 6 million NOK as a temporary solution that will last until at least 2014. From 2016 to 2017, the original building was closed for renovation and an additional building was being added between it and the classroom wing. The administration, the school library and some classes weretemporarily located at the former Tanks videregående skole.

Academics

Of the mainline courses offered in Norwegian upper secondary schools, only the generalist line, ''studiespesialisering'', is offered by Bergen Cathedral School. The school is the only one in Bergen offering the

IB Diploma Programme The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is a two-year educational programme primarily aimed at 16-to-19-year-olds in 140 countries around the world. The programme provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry int ...

, from which about forty students graduate per year. In the 2005–2006 school year, the senior year students of Bergen Cathedral School received the third best grades in

Western Norway Western Norway ( nb, Vestlandet, Vest-Norge; nn, Vest-Noreg) is the region along the Atlantic coast of southern Norway. It consists of the counties Rogaland, Vestland, and Møre og Romsdal. The region has no official or political-administrat ...

, which was the highest achieving region of Norway. The school has a reputation as a prestigious school, because of its history and high grade requirements.

Notable people

Alumni

A number of the most famous alumni in the history of the school are engraved in a plaque in the old building from 1840: * Gjeble Pederssøn (c. 1490–1557), bishop *

Absalon Pederssøn Beyer Absalon Pederssøn Beyer (c. 1528 – 9 April 1575) was a Norwegian author, lecturer and Lutheran clergyman. Beyer contributed greatly to the spiritual Reformation in Norway. He is best known today for his diary or annal of contemporary event ...

(1578-1575), clergyman, writer and lecturer *

Edvard Edvardsen Edvard Edvardsen (16 November 1630 – March 1695) was a Norwegian historian and educator. He was born in Bergen. His descriptions of the city of Bergen have been basis for several later historical works. He was assigned at the Bergen Cathedr ...

(1630-1695), historian *

Petter Dass Petter Pettersen Dass (c. 1647 – 17 August 1707) was a Lutheran priest and the foremost Norwegian poet of his generation, writing both baroque hymns and topographical poetry. Biography He was born at Northern Herøy ( Dønna), Nordlan ...

(1647-1707), poet *

Ludvig Holberg Ludvig Holberg, Baron of Holberg (3 December 1684 – 28 January 1754) was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright born in Bergen, Norway, during the time of the Dano-Norwegian dual monarchy. He was influenced by Humanism, ...

(1684-1754), writer, playwright and lawyer *

Hans Strøm Hans Strøm (25 January 1726 – 1 February 1797) was a Norwegian clergyman. He also became a prominent zoologist and naturalist. He is best associated with his topographical description of the traditional district of Sunnmøre. Life Hans ...

(1726-1797), topographer * Claus Fasting (1674-1739), merchant, mayor and historian *

Martin Vahl Martin Henrichsen Vahl (10 October 1749 – 24 December 1804) was a Danish-Norwegian botanist, herbalist and zoologist. Biography Martin Vahl was born in Bergen, Norway and attended Bergen Cathedral School. He studied botany at the Univers ...

(1749-1804), botanist and zoologist *

Nils Hertzberg Nils Christian Egede Hertzberg (26 October 1827 – 8 July 1911) was a Norwegian theologian, educator and politician. Background He was born in Ullensvang in Hordaland, Norway. He was a son of vicar and politician Niels Hertzberg (1759–1841) ...

(1827-1911), politician, theologist and teacher *

Jens Zetlitz Jens Zetlitz (26 January 1761 – 14 January 1821) was a Norwegian priest and poet. Zetlitz was born at Stavanger in Rogaland, Norway. At the close of the 18th century he traveled to the University of Copenhagen to study theology. He became a ...

(1761-1821), poet *

Hans Jacob Grøgaard Hans Jacob Grøgaard (5 April 1764 – 22 March 1836) was a Norwegian parish priest and writer. He served as a representative at the Norwegian Constituent Assembly in 1814. Background Hans Jacob Grøgaard was born in Åsnes in Hedmark, Norway. At ...

(1764-1836), priest and Eidsvoll delegate *

Christopher Frimann Omsen Christopher Frimann Omsen (11 December 1761 – 25 April 1829) was a Norwegian "Founding Father" and later Supreme Court Justice. He was born in Bergen as a son of customs officer Hillebrandt Omsen (1723–1771) og Helchie Catharina Thode (1728� ...

(1761-1829), civil servant and Eidsvoll delegate * Lyder Sagen (1777-1850), teacher and poet *

Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie (7 December 1778 – 10 October 1849) was a Norwegian attorney. He was a member of the National Assembly at Eidsvoll in 1814 and served as the Norwegian Constituent Assembly secretary. Background Born in Kristiansu ...

(1778-1849), civil servant and Eidsvoll delegate *

Nicolai Wergeland Nicolai Wergeland (9 November 1780 – 25 March 1848) was a Norwegian minister, writer and politician, and a member of the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll that wrote the Constitution of Norway on 17 May 1814. He was elected as one o ...

(1780-1848), theologist and Eidsvoll delegate *

Edvard Hagerup Edvard Eilersen Hagerup (9 September 1781 – 29 March 1853) was a Norwegian solicitor and politician. Hagerup was born in the city of Kristiansand in Lister og Mandals amt, Norway. He was the son of Bishop Eiler (Kongel) Hagerup (b. 1718) an ...

(1781-1853), politician *

Christian Lassen Christian Lassen (22 October 1800 – 8 May 1876) was a Norwegian-born, German orientalist and Indologist. He was a professor of Old Indian language and literature at the University of Bonn. Biography He was born at Bergen, Norway where he atte ...

(1800-1876), orientalist * Georg Prahl Harbitz (1802-1889), priest and politician *

Michael Sars Michael Sars (30 August 1805 – 22 October 1869) was a Norwegian theologian and biologist. Biography Sars was born in Bergen, Norway. He studied natural history and theology at Royal Frederick University from 1823 and completed a cand.theol ...

(1805-1869), theologian and biologist * Frederik Stang (1808-1884), Prime Minister *

Johann Sebastian Welhaven Johan Sebastian Cammermeyer Welhaven (22 December 1807 – 21 October 1873) was a Norwegian author, poet, critic, and art theorist. He has been considered "one of the greatest figures in Norwegian literature." Background Johan Welhaven was born ...

(1807-1873), poet and critic *

Ludvig Kristensen Daa Ludvig Kristensen Daa (19 August 1809 – 12 June 1877) was a Norwegian historian, ethnologist, auditor, editor of magazines and newspapers, educator and politician. Background He was born as Ludvig Christensen Daae in Saltdal to vicar Christen ...

(1809-1877), politician, historian and journalist * Ole Bull (1810-1880) violinist and composer *

Johan Fritzner Johan Fritzner (9 April 1812 - 10 December 1893) was a Norwegian priest and lexicographer. He is known for his magnum opus '' Ordbog over det gamle norske Sprog'', a major dictionary of Old Norse vocabulary. References {{DEFAULTSORT:Frit ...

(1812-1893), priest and lexicographer *

Peter Andreas Jensen Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a ...

(1812-1867), priest and writer *

Sven Brun Sven (in Danish and Norwegian, also Svend and also in Norwegian most commonly Svein) is a Scandinavian first name which is also used in the Low Countries and German-speaking countries. The name itself is Old Norse for "young man" or "young ...

(1812-1894), priest * Ole Irgens (1829-1906), teacher and politician * Peter Waage (1833-1900), chemist *

Jacob Worm-Müller Jacob (; ; ar, يَعْقُوب, Yaʿqūb; gr, Ἰακώβ, Iakṓb), later given the name Israel, is regarded as a patriarch of the Israelites and is an important figure in Abrahamic religions, such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Jac ...

(1834-1889), physiologist *

Henrik Mohn Henrik Mohn (15 May 1835 – 12 September 1916) was a Norwegian astronomer and meteorologist. Although he enrolled in theology studies after finishing school, he is credited with founding meteorological research in Norway, being a professor at the ...

(1835-1916), meteorologist *

Ernst Sars Johan Ernst Welhaven Sars (11 October 1835 – 27 January 1917) was a Norwegian professor, historian, author and editor. His main work was ''Udsigt over den norske Historie'', four volumes issued from 1873 to 1891. He co-edited the magazines ...

(1835-1917), historian and politician *

Armauer Hansen Gerhard Henrik Armauer Hansen () (29 July 1841 – 12 February 1912) was a Norwegian physician, remembered for his identification of the bacterium '' Mycobacterium leprae'' in 1873 as the causative agent of leprosy. His distinguished work ...

(1841-1912), physician * Alf Torp (1853-1916), philologist *

Gerhard Gran Gerhard von der Lippe Gran (9 December 1856 – 7 April 1925) was a Norwegian literary historian, professor, magazine editor, essayist and biographer. Personal life Gran was born in Bergen as the son of merchant Christen Knagenhjelm Gran (1822� ...

(1856-1925), writer * Christian Michelsen (1857-1925), shipping magnate and Prime Minister *

Lauritz Stub Wiberg Lauritz is a typically masculine given name, a Scandinavian form of the English Laurence or Lawrence. Another Danish and Estonian form is Laurits. Popularity in Scandinavia The name has been decreasing in popularity in all Scandinavian count ...

(1875-1929), actor * Harald Sæverud (1897-1992), composer * Helge Ingstad (1899-2001), polar explorer, lawyer, Governor of Norwegian Occupied East Greenland 1932-33 * Nordahl Grieg (1902-1943), poet, novelist, dramatist, and journalist *

Johan Nielsen Johan * Johan (given name) * ''Johan'' (film), a 1921 Swedish film directed by Mauritz Stiller * Johan (band), a Dutch pop-group ** ''Johan'' (album), a 1996 album by the group * Johan Peninsula, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada * Jo-Han, a ...

(1885-1963), Norwegian sailor priest with an outstanding history and footprint from South American to the Far East. * Per Hysing-Dahl (1920-1989), politician

Other notable alumni

* Johan Koren Christie (1814–1885), writer *

Hartvig Lassen Hartvig Marcus Lassen (9 August 1824 – 9 August 1897) was a Norwegian editor, educator and literary historian. Personal life He was born in Bergen, Norway as a son of police chief and burgomaster Albert Lassen (1783–1860) and his wife Abigae ...

(1824-1897), editor and historian * Jonas Lie (1833-1908), writer * Wollert Konow (1845-1924), Prime Minister *

Hans Gerhard Stub Hans Gerhard Stub (23 February 1849 – 1 August 1931) was an American Lutheran theologian and church leader. He served as Bishop of the Norwegian Lutheran Church in America. Background Hans Gerhard Stub was born in Muskego, Wisconsin. His paren ...

(1849-1931), Church Bishop *

Elizabeth Stephansen 250px (Mary Ann) Elizabeth Stephansen (10 March 1872 – 23 February 1961) was a Norwegian mathematician and educator. She was one of the first Norwegian women to be awarded a doctorate degree. Biography Stephansen was born in Bergen, Norway ...

(1872-1961) mathematician and the first Norwegian woman earning a

PhD PHD or PhD may refer to: * Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), an academic qualification Entertainment * '' PhD: Phantasy Degree'', a Korean comic series * ''Piled Higher and Deeper'', a web comic * Ph.D. (band), a 1980s British group ** Ph.D. (Ph.D. albu ...

in Mathematics. *Elise Stoltz (1872 – 1931) doctor and the first female leader of the student society Hugin at Bergen Cathedral School. * Arnulf Øverland (1889-1968), writer * Sverre Steen (1898-1983), historian. *

Knut Fægri Knut Fægri (17 July 1909 – 10 December 2001) was a Norwegian botanist and palaeoecologist. Fægri was born in Bergen. He was the son of Major Ole A. Fægri (1875–1962) and Gudrun Stoltz (1881–1940) and the nephew of the botanist, natural ...

(1909-2001) botanist and palaeoecologist * Kaare Meland (1915-2002), politician *Gunnvor Rundhovde (1918-1987), Professor of Nordic languages at the

University of Bergen The University of Bergen ( no, Universitetet i Bergen, ) is a research-intensive state university located in Bergen, Norway. As of 2019, the university has over 4,000 employees and 18,000 students. It was established by an act of parliament in 194 ...

* Ingrid Espelid Hovig (1924–2018) TV-chef and author *

Georg Johannesen Georg Johannesen (22 February 1931 – 24 December 2005) was a Norwegian author and professor at the University of Bergen. Background He was born in Bergen, Norway. He was the son of Knut Johan Johannesen (1900–1979) and Ingeborg Malene Olsd ...

(1931-2005), writer and academic * Narve Bjørgo (1936-), academic * Ole D. Mjøs (1939-), academic *

Jarle Aarbakke Jarle Aarbakke (born 18 November 1942) was the rector at the University of Tromsø, and is currently the mayor of Tromsø Tromsø (, , ; se, Romsa ; fkv, Tromssa; sv, Tromsö) is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The a ...

(1942-), academic * Gunnar Staalesen (1947-), writer * Ingelin Killengreen (1947-), lawyer and Norway's first police commissioner * Siri Hustvedt (1955-), writer * Gabriel Fliflet (1958-), musician * Harald Tveit Alvestrand (1959-), computer scientist *

Karoline Krüger Karoline Krüger (born 13 February 1970 in Bergen, Norway) is a Norwegian singer, actress and composer. Career Krüger's first TV appearance was at the age of 11, in a youth show called ''Halvsju''. She got her breakthrough in 1988, first by ...

(1970-), singer & pianist * Heikki Holmås (1972-), politician *

Tore Eikeland Tore is a Scandinavian masculine name. It is derived from the Old Norse name ''Thórir'', which is composed of ''thorr'' which means thunder, and ''arr'' which means warrior. So Thunder Warrior or Thor's Warrior. The most famous person by this n ...

(1990-2011) politician and youth party leader of AUF in Hordaland, killed at Utøya * Merethe Lindstrøm (1963-), author, winner of Nordic Council's Literature Prize 2012

Staff

* Hans Holmboe (1798-1868) * Johan Koren Christie (1814–1885) * Emanuel Mohn (1842-1891) *

(1856-1925) *

Ahlert Hysing Ahlert Hysing (5 September 1793 – 9 November 1879) was a Norwegian educator and member of the Parliament of Norway. Biography Hysing was the son of Hans Augustinus Ahlertsen Hysing (1764–1843) and Maureen Elisabeth Nielsdatter Koren (1761 ...

(1793–1879) Ahlert Hysing
— Norwegian Social Science Data Services

References

Other sources

* * * *

External links

School website

Digitalarkivet - Bergen Katedralskole
{{Authority control Secondary schools in Norway Cathedral schools International Baccalaureate schools in Norway Schools in Bergen Educational institutions established in the 12th century 1153 establishments in Europe 12th-century establishments in Norway Hordaland County Municipality