Bremen

What to visit in Bremen

One of the oldest Hanseatic cities in the world, economical partner and rival of Hamburg, Bremen has a lot to offer in History, architecture and attractions. Not many travelers come to Europe with Bremen in their route, but certainly those who do are always surprised.

Near Berlin and Hamburg, Bremen is one of the three State-cities of Germany. Those are cities that gather municipal and state functions. Located around 90km southeast from Hamburg, on the shore of the Weser river, Bremen gives its guests the feeling that it has aged well in its more than 1000 years of history, as a symbol of resistance and freedom.

Famous for the story of ‘Town Musicians of Bremen’, from the Brothers Grimm, the city has many attractions, such as the Überseemuseum and the Universum museum, the building of the City Hall and the Roland Statue (all of them are Heritage by UNESCO), as well as its harbor by the Weser River shore. Also, the city has, of course, beautiful buildings, and with the help of our guides, they tell the story of Bremen.

Main tourist spots

Even though the Bremen History has similarities to its neighbor, Hamburg, the atmosphere the city transmits is very different. First, you run the risk of leaving town and not seeing many of its hidden treasures. That’s because even though some of the attractions are quite close to each other, downtown streets are a little like a labyrinth. Second, because Bremen can keep a cozier atmosphere, even not being a small town.

Details inside St. Peter’s Church, Bremen Cathedral (St.-Petri-Dom)

In our tours, we make sure we guide our travelers through these little streets. And we guarantee that, in each one of them, you’ll feel fascinated by Bremen! How can you not feel charmed as you see the Saint Peter’s Cathedral (St. Peter Dom) for the first time, or the ancient streets in the Schnoor neighborhood?

We made a list with the main attractions of Bremen ? and it’s just the start! Little by little we’ll have more posts about each one of these attractions and other interesting spots in town!

Saint Peter’s Cathedral (St. Peter Dom)

In its imponent Romanesco style, the Saint Peter’s Cathedral is one of the highlights of the Bremen market square, the Marktplatz. The first signs of a church in this location come from 789 AD, when a small church was built in wood facing the Wesser river. The Bremen Cathedral is open to visitation, and it’s possible to access its towers, that are 99 meters tall.

Like in any Cathedral as important as this one, the interior of Bremen Cathedral is rich in details. It’s possible to enjoy art works that date from the 11^th Century, for example. In our tours, we work with the Cathedral staff itself and we offer the option of a tour inside the building, going to its basement, the towers, where we tell its amazing stories and some of its secrets.

The City Hall and Roland (Heritage by UNESCO)

Easily one of the most beautiful places in Germany, the Bremen City Hall is unique is its look. Its façade in renaissance style make the beauty of the original building, dated from 1405, even greater. Even more interesting is noticing that, even though this building is considered as one, actually it’s the junction of three buildings who were brought up in very distinct periods, and had its final addition finished already in the 20^th Century.

In front of the City Hall, there is the famous statue of Roland of Bremen. This knight from the European mythology has an important meaning to the independent cities of the German Empire. In Bremen, its message is clear and direct, for the statue with over 10 meters tall was built facing the church, representing the freedom and resistance of Bremen. Besides our tour through the city, we also have a special tour in a partnership with Bremen City Hall for a guided walk inside the Rathaus building.

Ratskeller of Bremen – the City Hall basement and its wine house

On the Bremen City Hall underground (Rathaus), there’s the largest wine house in Germany, with tunnels that go over 2km under the ground in an area that goes over 5km². Of course that the title of largest wine house in Germany is furiously argued (largest in size? In the quantity of wines? And so it goes…). Arguments aside, one thing is a fact: it’s in this wine house that the oldest wine in Germany is kept. Dated from 1653, the drink (believe it!) is still good to drink! Even so, due to its historical value, this wine is no longer tasted.

Schütting – the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bremen

As if in a competition for the attention of the visitors, facing the City Hall we have this other beautiful building, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bremen (Handelskammer). In its façade, the crests of the many cities Bremen had thin commercial relations stand out (among them, Hamburg and London). Still to these days, the Chamber of Commerce holds an important role in the city economy.

The Town Musicians of Bremen

Right beside the City Hall, there they are, the ‘ambassadors’ of Bremen! The main characters of the Grimm Brothers tale, ‘The Town Musicians of Bremen’, which tells the story of four pets: a cat, a dog, a rooster and a donkey, that go to Bremen looking for freedom. The story that inspired the Italian composer Sergio Bardotti to write, already in the 20^th Century the play that, in Brazil, came to be called ‘Os Saltimbancos’.

Schnoor

Another attraction you can’t miss in Bremen, the Schnoor neighborhood is a trip through time. Initially built in wood, this was the neighborhood where fishermen and sailors lived in the 8^th Century. Today, this part of the town is the place of beautiful houses, most of them cafés and stores, preserving the old style of the neighborhood. In a walk through its narrow streets, it’s possible to meet more from the architecture and lifestyle of Bremen in the Middle Age. Also, it’s in Schnoor that it’s found the ‘smallest hotel in the world’, the Hochzeitshaus. A guided tour through the Schnoor is essential in any visit to Bremen, since in each house and each corner there are so many stories to be told.

Bremer Geschichtenhaus

Are you a fan of stories? Theater? A Geschichtenhaus, or the Story house of Bremen, is a place you can’t miss! Inside a house complex in Schnoor, this theater group offers several presentations that tell a little of the Bremen History in different eras. Characterized actors, authentic sets and public interaction are the strengths of Geschichtenhaus. The presentations are made in German, but it’s also possible to schedule presentations in English (which happen less frequently). We have a partnership with the group, and we translate the stories to Portuguese, or we organize the visitation to the presentations in English.

Böttcherstrasse

When you leave Marktplatz, you’ll be received by a beautiful golden mural at the entrance of Böttcherstrasse Street. An old connection between the market and the Wesser River, this street is much more than that nowadays. With a charm hard to be measured (in my opinion, the most beautiful street in Europe!), Böttcherstrasse was thought of the way we see today in the beginning of the 20^th Century, by the coffee trader and inventor of decaf coffee, Ludwig Roselius. The houses in Böttcherstrasse own an unique look, and have an amazing number of art works and details, such as sculptures and inscriptions.

TIP: Wait for the hour to turn in front of the clock located in the square, in the middle of Böttcherstrasse. But you have to pay attention to the details.