Bremen: Rich with Opportunities
For many American children, their first introduction with Bremen was the fable “The Bremen Town Musicians”. However, the real city has a charm that’s just as storybook perfect, and it’s a destination for many travelers who want to experience the “real” Germany. This city with just over a half million inhabitants is located in the northwest corner of the country; thus, the climate tends to be a little chillier than, say, comparable towns in Bavaria.

 

For this reason, many visitors plan their trips in the spring, summer, or autumn. But if you find yourself there in the wintertime, you can still have a wonderful time. As a tourist in Bremen, you’ll probably find yourself padding around the old town (or “Altstadt” in German); this is where many of the sightseeing highlights are located. For instance, the Town Hall in the Marktplatz is quite an amazing sight. (For lunch or dinner, you can try the cuisine in the restaurant located in this building; plan to be tempted – there are over 600 exclusively German wines on the menu.)

 

One notable tidbit is that the buildings which surround the Marktplatz were damaged during World War II. However, after the war ended, the locals took it upon themselves to restore the exteriors themselves, a tribute to their city pride and loyalty.

Near the Town Hall are statues, including Marck’s sculpture of Die Stadtmusikanten, a tip of the hat to the Grimm fairy tale “The Bremen Town Musicians” discussed above. So strong is this connection with music that
each year Bremen hosts young musicians to play in the International Youth Symphony Orchestra of Bremen, an impressive honor.

A trip to Bremen wouldn’t be complete without a side trip to check out some of the more impressive religious structures, regardless of your religious leanings, including the St. Petri Cathedral, about 800 years old and containing amazing artwork and craftsmanship. Our Lady’s Church (Liebfrauenkirche) is also a “must see”, as it’s been around for almost a
millennium. Another sacred structure, the gothic Martinikirche, stood the test of time until the 1940s when it was partially destroyed during WWII; however, it was rebuilt in the 60s to its original splendor.

For pure ambiance and significance, a stroll along the Schnoor is something every visitor to Bremen needs to do. There, the winding streets boast shops, cafes, and galleries in buildings that have stood for over 500 years. (Bring your credit cards, traveler’s checks, and Euro with you during this excursion; it’ll be hard to pass up purchasing some souvenirs.) All of your senses will be tempted and delighted by this incredible opportunity to reach out and touch living history.

As with most towns in Germany, Bremen has several breweries, including that for Beck’s beer, which is popular in the States. Tours are available, and a taste of the goods may even be on the menu. Other beers brewed in Bremen are Groninger, Krausen, and Hemelinger. Finally, for the art lovers, the Kunsthalle Bremen is a terrific tourist attraction, with numerous paintings from masters of the past two-hundred years.

And the Neues Museum Weserburg, has more contemporary pieces if you’re into modern art. You won’t soon forget your wonderful time in Bremen, where you can tread in the footsteps of all those people who helped build the city into the jewel of Germany that it now is.