27 DEC 2020 · This is where our tour through Bremen’s Old Town ends. Please visit one of the historic gastronomies to enjoy the wonderful ambience of the “Marktplatz” again, or browse through the shops underneath the arcades behind the “Deutschen Haus.”If you wish, visit Tourist Information Centre at the corner of “Marktplatz/Langenstraße,” where you can get additional information about Bremen and the interesting areas surrounding it.We are delighted to have had an opportunity to familiarise you with Bremen’s Old Town’s history and attractions. We hope you enjoyed the tour and now know that Bremen has as much to offer as the other Hanseatic cities in Northern Germany. Please come back and visit us any time! Photo Marktplatz Bremen 2007 by Jaggele25  is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

27 DEC 2020 · This is now the trade registry of Bremen. Look up at the artistic golden façade and the magnificent portal of this sandstone building as you approach. Do you see the imprint “buten und binnen – wagen un winnen” (outside and inside – take chances and win)? This message was sent to the members of the city council and was intended to demonstrate the power held by Bremen’s merchants over the Government representatives.From the “Schütting” staircase, just as previously from the Roland statue, you can see the beautiful gable houses of Bremen, built in the 16th century, which were rebuilt in the same style after the destruction caused by the Second World War. The following buildings, some of which are under protection, can be seen from left to right.- Nr. 1, The Deutsches Haus/Rathscafe from 1908-11, with the imprint “Gedenke der Brüder, die das Schicksal unserer Trennung tragen” (commemorate the brothers bearing the destiny of our separation) (Germany’s division into FRG and GDR).- Nr. 9, Haus Jonas featuring the statue of a whale on the gable; it is a guesthouse now.- Nr. 11, Rathsapotheke (pharmacy) from 1893 and 1957. Photo Der Schütting by Wilhelmine Wulff  is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

27 DEC 2020 · You are now standing in front of the historical city hall, which was appointed a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in 2004. It is the only European city hall from the late medieval age that has never been destroyed or renovated. The jewel was built from 1405 to 1412 in the Gothic style and the current magnificent façade in the “Weser-Renaissance” style was added between 1602 and 1612. The city hall features a hipped roof made of copper with three gables.Please walk alongside the old city hall’s arcades and look up to enjoy elaborate decorations of the façade, which is almost impossible to grasp by merely looking at it. The sculptor Lüder von Bentheim created fantasy scenes that were foreign to this era: many flowers and exotic fruit, mythical animals and angels, etc., are, without a doubt masonry masterpiece.Take your time and look at the artistic wall hanging featuring pictures of religious and political topics, as well as the hen and chick above the second city hall arch. Bremen dwellers love these two figurines because they represent Bremen’s foundation. Do you see eight monumental sculptors of the Emperor and the Counts on the left? They represent the entitlement to Bremen’s royal freedom.Proceed to the Eastside of the city hall toward the dome and take a look at the two Herald statues as well as the pointed windows and figurines. You have now reached the entrance to the city hall. Several guided tours through the interior of the old building are offered here on a daily basis. We recommend you to take one.Amongst other things, you will learn that the upper level of the city hall hallway is 40 m long, 13 m wide and 8 m high. It features an impressive mural named “Das Salomonische Urteil” (Solomon’s Judgement) from 1537. The ship models hanging from the ceiling are also unusual; they highlight the importance of the nautical industry and maritime trade in Bremen. Centuries ago, the magnificent “Rathaus” hall was used for city council meetings and it is still used as a representative hall for numerous events today. The “Schaffermahl,” which is the oldest annually recurring brotherhood dinner in the world and represents the traditional connection between Bremen merchants and the nautical industry, deserves an honourable mention .The beautiful “Güldenkammer” was formerly used for smaller city hall meetings. It features vibrant colours in the Art Nouveau style, which was created by the artist and painter Heinrich Volker at the beginning of the 20th century. At this time, the expansion of the city hall by adding a second building became necessary. This building was also based on a medieval design and is located right next to the old city hall. Both the old and the new city halls look very similar and define the overall image of the Marktplatz (farmers’ market). Photo EKT09-Bremen Marktplatz-01 by Jürgen Howaldt is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

27 DEC 2020 · You are now at Bremen’s “cozy space”, the picturesque “Marktplatz” (farmers’ market), which is surrounded by the dome, the township, the “Schütting” or merchantship of 1537/38, the beautiful gable houses and the “Rathaus” with the Roland statue in front of it.Please approach Bremen’s landmark “Roland statue” which was ordered in 1404 by merchants as a symbol of freedom and merchant rights. Previously, the Bishop of Verden ruled Bremen for many years but the local traders finally emancipated themselves with an advanced reform. Now you know why the curly-headed boy’s smiling face is looking toward the dome.Although many German cities have a “Roland statue”, the Roland of Bremen is located in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. In 2004 UNESCO appointed “Roland Statue” along with the Rathaus World Cultural Heritage. . The stone statue measures 5.5 m – with the base up to the gothic style canopy, an even 10.21 m. The distance between Roland’s pointed knees is the exact distance of a “Bremer Elle” (an old measuring tool of approximately 57 cm), and he is dressed according to the 14th century fashion: chain mail, a leather vest, a chain belt, a shiny sword and the leg wear customarily worn by knights back in this era. The shield in his right hand is adorned with the dual-headed “kaiserlichem Reichsadler” (imperial eagle) and historic lettering, which means: “I announce the freedom given to all of you, which was granted by Karl (the Great) and many other Counts of this city. My advice: “Thank God for it.”People who would like to return to Bremen should touch Roland’s pointed knees. Unfortunately, you would need really long arms to reach Roland’s popular metal knees through the elaborately decorated fence. Due to vandalism and graffiti, it became necessary to create a distance between the freedom statue and the citizens of Bremen.The Bremen natives love to tell the story that the city of Bremen will remain independent and free as long as Roland remains in his current position and watches over the city. Photo Bremen-roland-marktplatz-häuser by Roland.h.bueb is licensed under CC BY 3.0

27 DEC 2020 · This plaza was not only used to host markets; it also served a judicial purpose and was a site for executing penalties for crime, The “Pranger” and Schandesel were built in the 16th century and convicts were tied down to face public scrutiny. Although many offenders were whipped inside a small building, they still had to endure public humiliation outside in the “Marktplatz” in any weather as part of their punishment. Photo Marktplatz Bremen by Dr. Bernd Gross is licensed under СС BY-SA 3.0

27 DEC 2020 · You will recognise this medieval alley by the gold writing on the building facades of Atlantis-Haus (right) and Robinson-Crusoe-Haus (left). Information boards describing all of the attractions in detail are placed everywhere along this impressive little street.The name Böttcherstraße originated from the fact that “Bottiche” = barrels/kegs were manufactured there. The barrel/keg makers and their families lived in those old buildings. They were purchased by Ludwig Roselius in the 20th century after they began to decay. Roselius was a coffee merchant in Bremen and he invented caffeine-free coffee. He pursued the mission of restoring the arts and crafts trade and Low German culture. The Böttcherstraße was, and still remains, an important connection between the Weser-River and the market place; thanks to Roselius, it has a special charm. Namely highlighted by the impressive buildings of various designs ranging from brick buildings to Art Deco. Photo Böttcherstraße Bremen Juli 2009 PD 028 by Bin im Garten is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

27 DEC 2020 · Once you have reached the “Bürgermeister-Schmidt-Brücke” (bridge), turn around. You can rest in one of the quaint beer-gardens, restaurants or pubs at any time during your return past the beautiful buildings at the “Schlachte”. Look at the ships from the shore promenade or take a boat trip on the Weser-River, if you wish. You can also cross the Teerhofbrücke and visit the district between the Weser-River and the “Kleinen Weser” (little Weser). You may, however, consider planning this activity for another day.Now, please proceed along the Schlachte, pass the second Schlacht-portal and then turn left at the Osteria by the first Schlacht-portal. Then continue straight on, past the Saint Martini Church and cross Martinistraße. If you proceed on this street for about 80 metres on the right side, you will reach the Southern entrance of Böttcherstraße. Photo BremenWeser-01 by Jürgen Howaldt is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

27 DEC 2020 · You have reached one of the most popular browsing and flaunting miles in Bremen, located directly on the Weser-River. The name “Schlachte” is derived from the Low German word “Slagte”, which means “hammering in the embankment posts.” Bremen’s Schlachte was the original harbour where the “Bremer Hansekogge” and other ships docked. The multi-storey gabled houses arranged next to each other were built at the beginning of the 13th century and served as living quarters for harbour employees, office buildings and warehouses for storing goods. Photo BremenSchlachte-03 by Jürgen Howaldt is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

27 DEC 2020 · You are now at the Weser-River, which connects Bremen with the Northern German lowlands and the North Sea. Take a break by sitting on one of the benches on the riverbank and observe the cyclists, pedestrians and the hustle and bustle on the water.Bremen’s first harbour was located at a Weser-River’s sidearm named “Balge“, which was still deep enough then to accommodate the ships of the 12th century. The Old Town stretched to the Islands between the Balge and the Weser-River. The Weser-River banks were not utilized as a docks until the 13th century, when wooden embankment enforcements, the Schlachte, were built. The waters of the “Unterweser” (lower Weser) are still navigated today up to the “Neustädter Häfen” (harbours), but with consideration of the tides and by ships with a maximum draught of 7.5 m. You can take a harbour tour later on, if you wish.Here is another interesting story: Until 1890, the Lower Weser-River in Bremen during majority of winters was frozen solid, under a thick layer of ice. In 1828, a group of native bachelors made a bet that on New Year’s Day of the following year the frozen Weser could be crossed with the aid of a heavy cutter and a hot iron without getting wet feet. The Bremen ice-bet emerged, whereby the loser had to host a celebration dinner with a main course of “Kohl und Pinkel“ (kale and sausage) for 600 guests. Since the Lower Weser-River rarely freezes now due to its alignment and excavation, a chance drawing is used: the losing party is determined by choosing “frozen” via a draw. The so-called “kale and sausage tours” are a popular past-time for the natives during the cold season, often accompanied by a good warming drink. Photo Weserhb2 by Philipp Hertzog is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

27 DEC 2020 · After you have probably enjoyed a snack there and visited numerous great stores and houses, you will reach an alley named Wüste Stätte. Look up and see the adorable wedding cottage, which has been transformed into a hotel now.Right next to it is the Haus Wüste Stätte No. 1, a picturesque framework house with a tea room.Across the street is the restaurant called “Katzen-Café” (cat-café), which is worth visiting to rest and talk over your Old Town experiences. PhotoBremen Wüstestätte f0315280  by Nightflyer is licensed under CC0 1.0