Strolling through the streets of Bergen you may wonder what these two stone blocks are doing here.

This is the Blue Stone Monument, designed by a Norwegian sculptor and painter Asbjørn Andresen and unveiled on March 27, 1993. The monument was a gift from the Kavli Trust foundation to mark its 100th anniversary. 

Crafted from Brazilian sodalite, the monument features a striking 9-meter-long stone resting atop a stone block, with a distinctive tilt toward the northeast. It includes a larger foundation with a smaller grey stone sculpture that resembles a cover over an opening at the base. 

During the work on the decoration of the area between Torggaten and Torgallmenningen, there were debates in the local media as to whether this stone could be considered a decoration or not. Some thought the blue stone spoiled the place. However, it did not take long before the stone had become an important gathering spot for Bergen's residents. "The blue stone" has become a term that everyone in Bergen knows, and a typical place where you arrange to meet in the center of Bergen.

Its significance was particularly evident in 2007, when it was covered in pink plastic for a marketing campaign, drawing public interest. The stone also served as a poignant memorial site after the tragic 2011 Norway attacks, where people gathered to lay flowers and pay their respects, further cementing its role as a symbolic anchor in the community.

Some sources say that the Blue Stone marks the geographical center of Bergen, but this is not true. While it is a notable landmark and a significant communal gathering point, the actual geographical center of Bergen is marked by a different location in the city. The Blue Stone serves more as a symbolic and artistic centerpiece rather than a precise geographical marker.