Bremen on the Weser River

Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. Hanseatic referred to a league of trading cities in the 13th century. It is a commercial and industrial city with a major port on the Weser River. It is also one of the largest seaports and centers of seaborne trade in the country. 

Located near Market Square is the famous statue of the Bremen Town Musicians. It is the creation of German artist and sculptor Gerhard Marcks. From the ground, in front of the State Parliament Building, you can hear the animal voices and the donkey's grave is on Bottcherstrasse.

A great way to start your tour of Bremen is to go to Marktplatz in the Old Town. It is home to many of the top attractions.

Built between 1405 and 1410, the Town Hall is considered one of the top attractions in the historical Marktplatz. One of the highlights is the Upper Hall, where the city council used to meet. There are model ships hanging from the ceiling. The modern building extension was designed by architect Gabriel von Seidel.

Both the Town Hall and Roland Statue have UNESCO World Heritage status. The Roland Statue is a global symbol of freedom and trading rights and is over 600 years old.

Of interest is that beneath the World Heritage site sits the oldest cask of wine in Germany. Known as “rose wine” after the decoration in the cellar where the cask is stored and dates from 1635. It is known as the Bremen Ratskeller, and here the oldest casks of wine are protected from light and air. 

The Parliament Building was designed by the internationally acclaimed Wassili Luckhardt. Today it is home to Bremen's regional assembly. It has a prominent place on Marktplatz. There is a sculpture garden featuring six artworks by Gerhard Marcks.

Also on the square, you can find a statue of a real Bremen character named Heini Holtenbeen. He was born in the city in 1835. As an apprentice to become a port tobacco inspector, he fell through a skylight and wound up with a brain injury and a stiff leg. Afterward, every day at Marktplatz he took cigars from merchants and went into the stock exchange where smoking was not allowed. Then he made his own cigars from the stubs he collected and sold them. Holtenbeen died in 1900 in a poor asylum. His bronze sculpture was created by Claus Homfeld, and visitors can hear his anecdotes told by himself.



The Bremen Cathedral is dedicated to St. Peter. It was built in the early Gothic style. It is located between the Town Hall and the State of Parliament on Marktplatz. It has two towers, and from one of them, visitors can see all around. In the cellar of the cathedral, you can discover the mysteries of mummies. Then relax in a Bible garden.

In the square, you'll also find Bremer Geschichtenhaus. This is a fun “living history” museum with costumed characters who will tell you stories about the history of the city from the 17th to the 20th centuries.

Schnoor Quarter is the oldest district in Bremen. You can enjoy strolling the maze of lanes which are lined with 15th and 16th-century houses. This is part of the old fisherman's quarter by the Weser River. It is nice to relax at the cafes and restaurants here.

Other highlights include the Schifferhaus or Shipper's House, built in 1630. Today it is a private museum.



Bottcherstrasse is an interesting 110-meter-long lane built in the 1920s. There are shops, museums, workshops, restaurants, and a carillon. It is the oldest pedestrian area in Bremen. 



The Paula Becker-Modersohn Museum is the world's first gallery dedicated to the art of a single woman. The highlights of the collection are photos, paintings, and documents, all about the artist. There are also displays of artwork by her contemporaries.

The Fountain of the Seven Lazy Brothers was created by Bernhard Hoetger and is based on a local legend. They were the sons of a Bremen farmer, not known for doing hard work. The brothers went out into the world and after returning they were no longer idle. This fountain still shows them as lazy. It is found in the courtyard of the Paula Becker Modersohn house in Bottcherstrasse. 

Take a look at the gables of the Seven Lazy Brothers House and see them standing tall and proud, looking down at the city.

The Roselius-Haus built in 1588, is home to the Ludwig Roselius Museum. It displays Low German art from the Gothic to Baroque periods.

The Kunsthalle Art Gallery has two new wings. You can see paintings, sculptures, prints, and media art from the past 600 years. Among the highlights are collections of French and German paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries.

The popular Schlate Promenade along the Weser River is a great place to take a stroll. People enjoy the river views and the restaurants with beer gardens. You can take a trip on the river with special tours like theaters, dinners, or concerts. In the summertime, there are live concerts at the riverside and sporting events on the river. An antique and bric-a-brac market can be found here on Saturdays. During Christmas time there is a Christmas Market.

At Universum Bremen, you'll find the Science Center with more than 250 exhibits. The building itself is interesting and looks like a giant silver mussel or whale. There are interactive exhibits on the themes of mankind, Planet Earth, and the cosmos.

Outdoors in Entdecker Park you can enjoy the discovery zone featuring interactive stations on the theme of movement. 



The Fallturm is another attraction at Universum Bremen. It is a 146-meter-high drop tower with a 110-meter tube. It allows experiments to be carried out in zero-gravity conditions. The tower can produce up to ten seconds of free fall and is an important part of aerospace research. From the top, you can get fantastic views over the city.

At Rhododendron Park you can enjoy lovely rhododendrons. The discovery center has interactive experiments and multimedia stations offering a tour of Asia. In the hothouses, are many plants and exotic shrubs. You'll find rhododendrons from southeast Asian regions, a thundering waterfall, and a giant Buddha statue.

The Ethnological Museum will take you on a journey around the world. Visitors can travel to distant continents, explore the underworld paradise of Oceania, see Asia's silk road, experience a rainforest at night, and learn about the wildlife of the African Savannah. This museum was founded in 1896 and offers 1.2 million exhibits. It ranks as one of the most important cultural institutions in northern Germany.

Wallanlagen Park is a nice place to take a stroll and see the windmill. It is open to the public and has a restaurant.

The Weser Tower is the gateway to the Uberseestadt district. This is the old port area that was transformed into a new quarter. The tower was designed by architect Helmut Jahn. It is located on an extension of the Schlachte Embankment. Here you'll find many bars, cafes, and restaurants.