Bremen
December 4, 2015
Positioned alongside the Weser River, the cultural and economic hub of Bremen is known for having a fascinating heritage you can discover through many well-preserved historical buildings and monuments.
If you'd love to find some stunning architectural features, read on to find out which buildings to keep an eye out for during a Bremen city break.
One of the most popular areas in Bremen is the Marktplatz, a public square home to iconic statues and building façades, making it one of the most beautiful in Europe. What stands out the most is the green-roofed town hall, built in 1405.
The first aspect of this UNESCO World Heritage Site you'll notice is the sculptured emperors and prince-electors on its façade. Their grey, stone colour contrasts with the red brick wall, showcasing Brick Gothic architecture.
However, almost 200 years later it was adorned with Weser and Flemish Renaissance details. The adaptions included adding a forward-extending bay with a high gable and sandstone sculpture placed on top. Narrow columns were inserted and arched windows replaced with rectangular ones that are all still present.
Also situated in the Marktplatz is Bremen's cathedral, St. Petri Dom, which boasts history stretching over 1,200 years. The main architectural style you'll see is early-Gothic, but step inside to see its true beauty. Explore beneath the floor to discover its oldest part, the stone chambers.
Although this cathedral is currently made out of stone, its original structure - built in 789 - was constructed from wood. After being burned down in the 11th century, Archbishop Adalbert built the foundations we see today. Its original design included a flat timber ceiling, curved Romanesque style arches and two flat-topped towers on the west front.
It wasn't until the 13th century, Prince-Archbishop Gebhard II vaulted the previously flat central nave; blended and extended the two towers; and added a rose window to conform to the new Gothic style that still stands 8,000 years later.
The Schutting is located opposite the town hall in the Marktplatz. It was built in 1537 with a design based on the Renaissance buildings in Flanders at the time.
Between the 18th and 19th centuries, the entrance was made central and horizontal projections removed, giving it a Baroque-style architecture. Afterwards, a twin staircase was added to accentuate the newly centralised entrance.
The interior of the building burned down in 1944, but reconstruction took place shortly after until 1956. The entire exterior was rebuilt to look exactly like it did before; the only original pieces kept were the windows on the façade. Keep an eye out for the gold reliefs placed on top of each window and the Bremish merchants' coat of arms above the entrance.
The Stadtwaage, situated on Langenstraße, was built to protect customers against fraud and levy tax. From a distance, you can see this Weser Renaissance building has been decorated with golden, shell-shaped ornaments above the windows and pointed columns on each of the façade's ledges.
If you look closely, you'll see cherub heads with golden wings behind them, along the first and second levels. To access the building, wander through two archways lined with repeating motifs and a golden plaque stating the name of the building in between.
In 1944, everything apart from the building's exterior walls were destroyed in a bombing, but it wasn't until after the Second World War reconstruction started, maintaining the old façade you see today. Don't forget to take a look around the back to see the beautiful Bremen coat of arms.
If you would like to book a Bremen city break, contact us via our website or call the Fred. Holidays team and we'll tailor-make your trip to suit your requirements.
