Swan Pharmacy

Swan Pharmacy, known as Svaneapoteket, is the oldest pharmacy in Norway, established in 1595 in Bergen. After a fire destroyed the original building in 1916, it was rebuilt by architects Fredrik Arnesen and Darre Kaarbø, with a replica of the iconic metal swan still adorning its entrance. The pharmacy has historical significance as Bergen was a hub for wealth through fishing and timber industries. The first pharmacist, Lambert Gregerson Friis, was joined by Nicolas de Freundt, who obtained a permit from King Christian IV to operate. While a second Swan pharmacy opened in Oslo in 1628, the Bergen location remains the sole survivor, now part of the Apotek 1 chain. The swan symbolizes intelligence and purity, reflecting its importance in medieval apothecary culture.