Bremen Germany Journey Information | Issues To Do, Factors Of Curiosity
Bremen in northern Germany lies on the Weser and is only about an hour away from Hamburg. It is still a free Hanseatic city. Although Bremen is the second largest city in northern Germany with around 550,000 inhabitants, the city center is quite compact and most of the sights can be reached on foot or by tram.
Bremen market square
If you leave the main train station and walk south on Bahnhofstrasse and Herdentorsteinweg, you will reach the market in around 10 minutes. For administrative reasons, Bremen was divided into five districts and around 23 districts. Most of the sights are located around the central market with its town hall. The famous Böttcherstraße and the Schnoorviertel are in the immediate vicinity.
Since Bremen is in a moderate climate zone in northern Germany, the temperatures are rather mild all year round. Due to the proximity to the sea, the weather can also be attributed to maritime influences. There is hardly any snow in winter.
From the 1st century there were settlements on the Weser in northern Germany, where Bremen is today. However, the official founding date of Bremen was the 8th century.
Charlemagne named the city a diocesan city in 787 and an archbishopric in 845, which caused the city to flourish for the first time. In 1260 Bremen became a member of the Hanseatic League, an important league of trading cities in northern Germany and an independent city.
Bremen Weser night view
During this time, Bremen’s landmarks – the statue of Roland and the town hall – were built to demonstrate the city’s independence. During this time the landmark of Bremen – the Roland statue – as well as the town hall were built to demonstrate the independence of the city.
Since the Weser increasingly began to silt up, a new part of Bremen was built on the west bank of the Weser between 1574 and 1590. The tightening also caused problems for merchant ships to land at the docks, and Germany’s first man-made harbor was built at the beginning of the 17th century. Bremen was named a Free Imperial City.
From 1811 to 1814 Bremen was occupied by Napoleon’s troops. In the 19th century, too, the city played an important role in the development of German overseas trading and shipping companies. Due to the flourishing economy, the population of Bremen increased considerably.
Bremen was largely destroyed during the Second World War. In 1947 it received a constitution and two years later it became the Land of the Federal Republic of Germany. In 2004 the old town hall and the Roland statue on the market were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
As in other small towns in Germany, Bremen’s attractions are within easy walking distance of each other. As the city center is quite compact, exploring on foot is definitely the best option. Bremen Central Station is about 10 minutes from the center, the market.
Bremen train station
Of course there is also a bike rental service where it is possible to rent a bike. It is recommended to obtain a map of Bremen and the surrounding area.
Most of Bremen is covered with trams. Around 10 tram lines are operated by the Bremen / Lower Saxony transport association, the BSAG.
BSAG also operates quite a few regular bus routes. There are major junctions in front of the main train station and near the town hall. Further information on routes and timetables can be found on the BSAG website. www.bsag.de.
Cheap flights to Bremen Germany
Landmarks in Bremen Germany
The statue of the knight Roland on the Bremen market square and of course the town musicians next to the Church of Our Lady are the landmarks of Bremen. In 2004, the Roland statue and the old town hall in the market were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The market with an incredible atmosphere and the Roland statue are the center of Bremen. Most of Bremen’s sights are located here.
When you exit the main train station and walk south on Bahnhofstrasse and Herdentorsteinweg, you will come across the first sight of Bremen which is really beautiful. It is a Dutch windmill and gives a first impression of the beautiful character of Bremen.
Bremen windmill park
If you go further you will reach the city center and the main attractions, most of which are located around the famous Bremer Markt.
The statue of the knight Roland on the market square in Bremen is not only a landmark and UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also the center of Bremen. Unfortunately, the statue’s original head with a height of 5.5 m was removed during World War II and replaced with a copy. The original can still be seen in the museum of St. Petri Cathedral. This cathedral opposite the Roland was built in the 11th century and dominates the market.
Roland statue
- Old City Hall
The old town hall is also on the market next to the Roland statue. It was first built at the beginning of the 15th century. The beautiful Renaissance style balcony was added 200 years later between 1595 and 1618.
- Town Musicians of Bremen
The ultimate landmark of Bremen, which almost everyone knows, is the statue of the city musicians in front of the Church of Our Lady. Based on the famous fairy tale “Bremen Town Musicians” by the Brothers Grimm, it was cast by Gerhard Marcks in 1951 and shows a dog, a cat and a rooster on a donkey. Touching the donkey’s nose is said to bring good luck. The Church of Our Lady next to the Town Musicians is also worth a visit, although it is overwhelmed by the impact of the tiny statue.
Bremen city musician statue landmark
- Schütting + House of Guarantee
Opposite the old town hall is the Schütting, which was once the house of the merchants. The three houses on the west side of the market are 19th century buildings and opposite to the east is the market’s only modern building, the House of Guarantee.
Old Town Hall
If you enter the small street directly in front of the Schütting, you will be stunned. Böttcherstraße is one of the most famous streets in Bremen for good reason. Built between 1922 and 1931 in the Art Noveau style, it not only has two stunning entrances, but also beautiful red-brick houses, galleries, shops and cafes, many of which were designed by Bernhard Hoetger. Some of the houses are worth a closer look, e.g. B. the PaulaModersonBeckerHaus near the entrance, the Roselius House from the 16th century (which was therefore not designed by Boetger) and the Glockenspielhaus. Fortunately, the Böttcherstrasse was saved from the bombings during the Second World War and therefore not destroyed.
Bremen’s oldest district, the Schnoor, is probably located southeast of the market. It used to be a lake and then a red light district. With its small and narrow streets, many restaurants and cafes, as well as small shops and boutiques, it is loved not only by tourists but also by locals. Since there are still many houses from the 17th and 18th centuries that were not destroyed in the wars, you will also get the impression of living in earlier days. The Catholic Church of St. Johann is located on the outer edge of the Schnorr.
Bremen Schnoor sights
Bremen events & festivals
Events and festivals take place in Bremen all year round. Some of them are quite big and well known and shouldn’t be missed.
Every year on January 6th, the traditional ice cream bet takes place on the Weser in Bremen. A tailor with a red-hot iron tries to cross the river without getting his feet wet. The first ice bet took place in 1829.
Carnival in Bremen
Another important tradition in Bremen is the Schaffermahl in February. It has been held every year in Bremen’s town hall since 1952.
www.schaffermahlzeit.de
Carnival also takes place in February. The Bremen Carnival is one of the most important festivals in the city and not typically German at all.
Festival celebration
The Breminale in Bremen’s Osterdeichwiesen took place for the first time in 1987. During this cultural event every September, thousands of people meet for theater, literature, music and events for children. Unfortunately there is currently a problem with the funding of the Breminale and no one is sure that this important festival will survive. But people fight for it!
www.breminale.de
The Maritime Festival takes place every August in Bremen’s Vegesack. For three days, thousands of people come together in the port area and national and international bands are presented. As this festival is unique in Germany, don’t miss it if you are in Bremen at this time.
www.festivalmaritim.de
The Bremen Music Festival takes place every year in September. It is one of the largest festivals for classical music in Germany. The program includes performances of contemporary and historical music as well as international artists and has grown since its inception in 1989.
www.musikfestbremen.de
The Freimarkt in Bremen is one of the oldest public festivals in Germany. It comes from the Middle Ages, ie the first free market took place on October 16, 1035 at the courtyard of the church “Our Dear Women”, when people were allowed to sell their goods at the market without restrictions. About 800 years later, fairs and tents were launched. Now the Freimarkt takes place every year in October for two weeks and is not only one of the oldest, but also one of the most popular German public festivals.
www.freimarkt.de
In December there are Christmas markets all over Bremen. The most important is the Christmas market in the market around the Roland statue.
Christmas Market
Hotels in Bremen Germany
Bremen offers a wide range of hotel options, including hostels, guest houses and guest houses Hotels. To avoid disappointment, we recommend that you book your hotel in advance.
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