Bremen is another gem of northern Germany characterized by cultural richness and a wonderful history. The city has two faces: tradition and modernity. The heart of Bremen is the market square with the impressive statue of Roland and the famous Town Hall, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Nearby, there are the famous statues of “Bremer Stadtmusikanten” (Bremen Musicians), known from the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, which attract tourists who want to touch the donkey’s legs, which, according to local tradition, is supposed to bring good luck.
Market square in Bremen
Bremen’s market square is considered one of the most beautiful in country. A particularly interesting eye-catcher is the town hall, which together with Bremen’s Roland statue is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But St. Peter’s Cathedral, the Bürgerschaft and Schütting also have an interesting story.
Bremen Market Square is one of the oldest public squares in the city which is no longer used as a market place except for the Christmas market and the annual Freimarkt Fair at the end of October.
Roland’s Statue
The Roland statue in front of the historical Town Hall is considered one of the most famous monument of Bremen. With a height of over 10 meters, the knight on the market square is the largest free-standing statue of the German medieval ages and since 2004 forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
The stone Roland erected in Bremen in 1404 and is a symbol of freedom and market rights on market squares in Central Europe. It refers to a historical personality, namely a paladin (companion) of Emperor Char. The Roland in Bremen is to exemplify: the Emperor is the founder of the city, it is him who gave the city its rights and privileges.
Cathedral of St. Peter in Bremen
The Bremen Cathedral is located in the Bremen market square and is dedicated to St. Peter. The cathedral however, belongs to the Bremian Evangelical Church which is a member of the Evangelical Church in Germany, a protestant organization in Germany. The Bremen Cathedral is among the popular buildings of the Bremen market square. The building is protected under the Monument Protection Act since 1973. The church has two towers and only one of them is open for the visitors.
Böttcherstrasse
Böttcherstraße is a pedestrian street in the center of Bremen’s Old Town, running northeast to southwest and connecting the Old Market Square with Martinistraße. Even though it is just over 100 meters long, the street owes its fame to its wonderful architecture and several important monuments. Wandering through Böttcherstraße is like walking through a city within a city, full of shops and restaurants, but also museums.
Schnoor
“Schnoor” – “Snoor” – means string, it the small houses that stand as close together as pearls on a string. The Schnoor is an attraction for tourists and Bremeners on the trail of history. In the car-free quarter, it’s worth strolling through all the alleyways, because there a many well hidden shops. Whether handicrafts, jewellery, design, chocolates or advertising signs from times long past: You can always discover something new in the Schnoor.
Musicians from Bremen
Do you know the story of the four animal friends? Koki the rooster, Lupo the dog, Burlón the cat and Tonto the donkey, who form a band playing guitar, trumpet, saxophone and drums respectively to win the competition in Bremen.
The bronze statue, made by Gerhard Marcks in 1953, stands in the heart of Bremen as a tribute to the popular fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm – The Musicians of Bremen.
This is a favorite attraction of tourists who want to take photos with the musicians.
Universum Bremen
The Universum Bremen is a science museum in Bremen. Universe offers active and diverse opportunities to explore and discover scientific phenomena. With interactive exhibitions, room-in-room installations and multimedia supports that involve all the senses, the museum aims to arouse curiosity, amazement, delight and arouse questions. Covering an area of over 4,000 m², the museum’s collection shows objects on three themes: humanity, earth and cosmos.
Kunsthalle Bremen
The Kunsthalle Bremen is one of the oldest and most beautiful museums in Europe. Founded in 1823, the art association in Bremen is still the private sponsor of the museum today. In its collection, the Kunsthalle presents a varied overview of 700 years of art history: from the Italian Renaissance through the Dürer period and Dutch painting of the Golden Age to contemporary art. Historical works meet contemporary works, well-known artists meet unknown artists. Thematic rooms are about faith, war, nature, world trade, colonialism and globalization.
