About Bremen
The historic inland port city of Bremen has great architecture and museums, as well as a friendly and fun atmosphere.
Back in the 9th century, Breman was a small village in northwestern Germany situated on the banks of the Weser River around 60-70 km south of the North Sea estuary. It was the ideal location to construct a port, which it did in the 10th century and so became an important port and industrial center. Bremen is a city-state (the smallest of the 16 federal German states) and is a significant economic power.
The Schnoor Quarter is Bremen’s oldest district. It is like a maze with its 15th-16th century houses as well as shops, galleries, restaurants and cafes creating an exciting and vibrant area. As witnesses to the past, the city's first stone walls dating back to the 11th century give this place its unique setting. And from the 13th century you have the parliament building, as well as St. Peter’s Cathedral (St. Petri Dom) with its two very visible-from-afar towers (one of which is open to visitors) still standing and attracting thousands of tourists in the market square (Rathausplatz). No less intriguing is the interior of the church with reliefs from the Old and New Testaments. Older than the church are the crypts which are in the courtyard. The Town Hall (Rathaus) is in the center of the town and dates from the early 15th century. It stands out with its Renaissance façade (although many additions were made later on in the 17th century) and the Roland statue (erected in 1404), both are on the UNESCO Heritage list.
Note: If you were wondering what is a Roland statue then let us tell you that it is simply a (mythological) knight with a drawn sword (named after the brave nephew of Charlemagne). You can find these statues in a number of cities throughout Europe, but especially in the northern and eastern parts of Germany. The most popular place to erect such statues is usually in front of the city hall. Similar values as the Statue of Liberty in New York the Roland Statue signifies trading rights and freedom.
One of the Bremer (amusing) landmarks stands near the municipality building, a bronze statue called “The Town Musicians of Bremen" (Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten). Based on a fairy tale by the Grimm Brothers the statue of four farm animals who set out to find their new home in Bremen was created in 1953 by Gerhard Marcks.
With its 30 Meissen porcelain bells, the carillon of the Glockenspiel House (Haus des Glockenspiels) chimes three times a day. Moving away from the square we follow Bottcherstrasse, a narrow street which leads you to the river. This popular pedestrian zone is about 100 meters long, with red brick buildings in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco style, bursting with museums, galleries, stores, bars and restaurants.
Created in 1924, The Focke Museum is located near the train station near the old town. It is the museum of history and the history of art for the city and state of Bremen. The permanent exhibition includes medieval sculptures, paintings from the Baroque period, Dutch and Flemish art from the 16th and 17th centuries and a collection of art nouveaux.
In Bremen you have the one of the factories of Mercedes-Benz, employing over 12,000 people. There is a children’s play area, they offer a factory tour and you can take a shot at trying your expertise on an offroad adventure on “The Rock” (as it is called) an all-action off-road training track. You will be challenged to drive through hills and vales, face sharp side turns, confront, obstacles and suffer potholes. As well, there is the Airbus aircraft and space factory, which is the largest employer in Bremen, offers pre-booked tours in the field of space research.
The first café in Europe opened in one of Bremen's squares in the 17th century – and the rest is history! Cafes, restaurants and pubs are found in every nook and cranny throughout the cities of Germany and each has its “specialty dessert dish. In Bremer it is called (what else but): Bremer Klaben. Similar to stollen (which is a German fruit cake) it is a heavy yeast dough and includes raisins, almonds, lemon, and orange peel (and don’t forget the rum).
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Looking for some interesting things to do in Bremen? Here are some recommended attractions and sights for you.
art & culture
tours, sightseeing & cruises
Attractions in Bremen
- Schnoorviertel, Bremen
- Historic Center, Bremen
- Market Square, Bremen
- Focke Regional Museum, Bremen
- Art Gallery, Bremen
- Town Hall, Bremen
- Cathedral, Bremen
- Glockenspiel House, Bremen
- Beck's Brewery, Bremen