Germany – Bremen (Bremen and Bremerhaven) January 17-18, 2019
BREMEN
World Heritage Sites:
Town Hall and Roland on the Marketplace of Bremen. It is the seat of the President of the Senate and the Mayor. It is one of the most important examples of Brick Gothic architecture in Europe and was listed by UNESCO in 2004.
It is on the market square in the historic city centre, and directly in front of it is the statue of Roland. On the opposite side of that square is the ancient guildhall, called Schütting, which is still today the seat of the board of commerce. On the southeastern side of the square is the seat of the Bremen state parliament, called the Bürgerschaft. East of both the town hall and the parliament, Bremen Cathedral is located.
At about 1400, the town hall, in Gothic style, was decorated with 16 large sculptures depicting emperors and prince-electors, demonstrating Bremen’s claim to being an imperial city and its fortification. Between 1545 and 1550, an extension with three floors was built between the town hall and the archbishop’s palace. In 1909, the Stadthaus was dismantled to make way for the construction of the new town hall on its site. Between 1909 and 1913, it received an extension about twice as large as the old building. It survived the air raids of World War II with minor damage, though more than sixty percent of the city was destroyed. The Upper Hall remains Bremen’s most prestigious venue for meetings and events. The Golden Chamber (Güldenkammer). This small room, added to the upper hall in 1608, was redecorated in 1905 by Heinrich Vogeler in a pure Art Nouveau style. The Lower Hall is original with a stone floor, visible timber beams, and limewashed walls. The New Town Hall features a banquet hall, a fireplace room, and a Gobelin room.
Bremen Hauptbahnhof (Central Train Station). Built from 1886 to 1891, it has undergone several remodels due to war damage and modernization. The tracks are above a large mall with shops.
Kunsthalle Bremen. Covers a wide range of art from the 1400s to the present, including many impressionists. €13.
Overseas Museum.
Paula Modersohn-Becker Museum. The first museum in the world to be dedicated to a female painter, she (1876-1907) was a pioneer in the early 20th century. €6
St Peter’s Cathedral. Once the archbishopric of northern Europe, it played a crucial role in the spread of Christianity throughout Scandinavia and along the Baltic coast. The original church was built in 787, and the present building in 1042. There is a good free museum.
Schloss Schönebeck is a moated castle built in half-timbering located in the valley of the Schönebecker Aue. Built in the 17th century, it wasn’t used by the Borch family for decades and was acquired by the city of Bremen in 1952. The building was subsequently restored and used for the Heimatmuseum Schloss Schönebeck, featuring an extensive scientific library. Special exhibitions cover the former port city of Vegesack, including sailing, steamboats, herring loggers, and whaling. It is 22 km east of Bremen.
Am Wall Windmill. The first windmill on this site was constructed in 1699, and the current structure was completed in 1898, featuring an eight-sided base and an upper part steered by a wind vane. The windmill is situated in the middle of a city park that was constructed on the site where the city’s fortifications once stood. Today, the building is heritage-listed and inside is a restaurant. Tourists may enter the building for a nominal charge every day, although it is only open in the afternoon during the winter months.
