My Visual Travel Experience: Bremen

Back in the summer of 2007, I managed to take 3 weeks off from work, and I traveled around Europe by Eurail. I covered three countries - Germany, Italy and Denmark. It was a memorable trip, but I made the mistake of walking extensively without proper walking shoes, and I came back with a problem in my heels that went on to become a chronic problem.

My travels around Germany also took me to the medieval town of Bremen. It turned out to be a special visit to Bremen, because unlike everywhere else on that solo trip, I had company because I was staying with Antje, a German friend of my elder sister's, who lived in Bremen and worked in the nearby city of Hamburg. Antje had been with my sister in college in England years earlier, and they had kept in touch. She was very hospitable, and lent be her bicycle while I was in Bremen. The town is small enough to cover by bicycle, and I had a good time riding into town and exploring its stunningly beautiful medieval architecture.

A pretty town in northern Germany with a population of about 570,000, Bremen historically owes its prosperity to its coffee and wool trade. In modern times, its has been a major source of income for the country - the town’s port, Bremerhaven, ships hundreds of thousands of cars each year. The town was damaged extensively by allied bombings during World War II, but it was subsequently restored with a lot of care.

Marktplatz lies in the heart of the old town, and is famous for its buildings with gabled roofs. The square is no longer used as a market place, except during festivals like Christmas and the Freimarkt Fair in late October. Marktplatz dates back to the early 15th century AD. Several of Bremen's landmarks lie along Marktplatz. The square is a popular tourist attraction and has shops and restaurants, buzzing with visitors.

Marktplatz

The Rathaus, or City Hall, lies on Marktplatz and is the seat of the President of the Senate. The Rathaus consists of the Altes Rathaus (the Old City Hall) and the Neues Rathaus (the New City Hall). The former dates back to the 15th century AD, and the latter dates back to the 20th century AD. The Gothic Altes Rathaus has many treasures including a spiral staircase, the Upper Hall, the Golden Chamber, the Lower Hall and the Ratskeller (a celler for storing wine). The Neues Rathaus has the Banquet Hall, the Fireplace Room, the Gobelin Room and the Senate Hall.

 Rathaus

The Statue of Roland at Marktplatz is dedicated to the nephew of Emperor Charlemagne. Roland was the legendary protector of the town and the statue shows him with his sword and shield with its two headed imperial eagle. According to legend, Bremen will remain free and independent as long as Roland stands watch over it. The original wooden statue dated back to the 10th century AD but was destroyed in 1366 by Prince Archbishop Albert II. The current statue was built in 1404. It is over 5 meters in height, and the column behind it is over 10 meters tall. 

Statue Of Roland

Bremer Dom is the town’s main cathedral and is dedicated to St Peter. It also lies on Marktplatz. The inner courtyard of the cathedral has the statue of Sankt Jakob. Above the entrance, there is the statue of Charlemagne. The cathedral has twin steeples that stand at a height of 89 meters. From the top, one gets fine views of the town. The cathedral dates back to the 11th century AD, though there have been numerous additions through the centuries. There was a timber church at the site way back in the 8th century AD, but it was burned down by the Saxons just 3 years after it was built. 

Bremer Dom

Charlemagne Statue, Bremer Dom

Courtyard, Bremer Dom

The Statue of the Town Musicians is yet another landmark on Marktplatz. According to the town’s folklore, a donkey, dog, cat and rooster, all past their prime and shunned by their masters, became musicians and created such a cacophony with their singing that they scared away a group of thieves who had come to burgle a house. This statue was built in 1953.

Statue of the Town Musicians

The Schuetter building is yet another landmark at Marktplatz. This building was used by the Merchants’ Guild for their conventions. The building was completed in the 16th century AD.

Schuetter

Boechterstrasse is a charming street close to the centre of town, with experimental Art Deco architecture. The street was transformed into its current state in 1930 by Ludwig Roselius, a wealthy coffee merchant. The street is just about 100 meters long. Its highlights include the bas relief of the Lichtbringer (the Bringer of Light, dedicated to Adolf Hitler, but rejected by him), Haus des Glockenspieles (with its 30 bells of Meissen porcelain) and Roseliushaus (which houses the private art collection of Ludwig Roselius).

Lichtbringer,
Boechterstrasse

Haus des Glockenspieles, Boechterstrasse

Roseliushaus, Boechterstrasse

The Schnorr is a narrow pedestrian street with charming shops and restaurants. The buildings date back to the 15th to 18th centuries. This was one of Bremen’s poorest areas, but post 1958, it has been developed into a tourist attraction.

Schnorr

The Spielzeugmuseum, or Toy Museum, lies at the Schnorr, and has a range of early day toys including teddy bears, dolls and bicycles.

Spielzeugmuseum

Soegerstrasse is a street near the centre of town with a sculpture of a horn player surrounded by pigs, dogs and other animals.

Soegerstrasse

Bremen Hauptbahnhof is the town's main railway station. The station first opened in 1847 at its present location. The current station was completed in 1891. The station has been remodeled and renovated several times, but largely resembles the structure completed in 1891.

Bremen Hauptbahnhof

I spent 2 nights at Antje's place. One day was spent exploring Bremen, and on my second day, I caught a train and went across to Hamburg, about 120 km north east of Bremen. Bremen was really pretty and it certainly had one of the prettiest town centres that I've seen on my many travels. Most travelers to Germany tend to visit the vibrant cities of Berlin (for its history, museums and churches) and Munich (especially during the annual Oktoberfest, when beer flows like water!); or they visit Cologne for its grand Gothic cathedral; or they go to experience the stunning beauty of the Black Forest; or they go and see the charming Neuschwannstein Castle that inspired the Disneyland Castle; or they visit Germany's tallest peak Zugspitze; or they even take in the fascinating landscapes along the River Rhine by going on a river-cruise. I would however say that Bremen is certainly worth adding into one's Germany itinerary and one won't be disappointed!