One of Germany's most beautiful market squares, the Bremen Marktplatz
is ringed by buildings from 8 centuries: the Gothic Rathaus (Town Hall,
1405-10) with its splendid Renaissance facade (1609-12); the
Schütting,
guildhall of Bremen merchants, built 1536-38 with a Renaissance gable of
1565; proud town houses on the western side faced by the modern
Parliament Building on the east; and, not least of all,
St. Peter's
Cathedral, oldest structure on the square (begun 1042).
Also at the Rathaus stands the "Bremer
Stadtmusikanten" (Bremen Town Musicians) statue inspired by
the Brothers Grimm fairytale of the same name, cast in bronze by Gerhard
Marcks. Right next to it is the entrance to the Bremen Rathauskeller,
precious cellar of the Rathaus, with its winelist of some 700 different
exclusively German vintages. The city's oldest parish church, Our Lady,
dates from the 13th century. Well worth seeing here are the windows by
Alfred Manessier. Magnificent Renaissance facades grace the Gewerbehaus
(Guildhall, 1618-19) and the Stadtwaage (Weighhouse) built 1585-88 by
Lüder von Bentheim.
Roland,
symbol of Bremen's independence as a free city, has surveyed the bustle
of the Marktplatz for nearly 600 years. It was
erected in 1404. In 1646 the city attained "Reichsunmittelbarkeit"
status, making it subject to none but the Emperor, and in 1806 it became
a Free Hanseatic City.
An example of Gothic brick art is the
14th century Church of St. John. For
a view of most curious architecture, stroll along the only 100-yard-long
Böttcherstrasse, stopping perhaps to admire the Paula Becker Moderson
House with works by the famous Worpsweder painter.
The romance of the Middle Ages lives on
in the oldest district of the city
the Schnoor district,
little 15th and 16th century houses are lined up shoulder to shoulder.
Found in its charming twisting lanes are artists' studios, goldsmiths'
workshops and galleries. Past and present flow seamlessly together in
Bremen. This is prominently demonstrated by delightful Böttcherstrasse –
a unique, world famous architectural ensemble. Bremen owes its
international flair not only to the harbors with their links to all the
world, but also to aerospace technology, science, research – and, not
least of all, a rich cultural life.
Further sights include the Church of St. Martin,
built 1229 on the banks of the Weser as a merchants' chapel, the
Windmill am Wall, the Rhododendron Gardens and, of course, the harbors.
