Bremen’s history is strongly influenced by trade, which was dominated by merchant communities. The Hanseatic League, an association of northern German and Baltic cities, played an important role in Bremen’s history. The Hanseatic League was first founded in Lübeck. Bremen joined the Hanseatic League several times but also left or was expelled several times. Wikipedia describes the relationship as follows: “Bremen’s interest in the Hanseatic League was often self-serving. If the merchants benefited from the League of Cities, they took advantage of it, but they also did business that went against the interests of the Hanseatic League.”
From the H+ Hotel, you can reach Bremen’s most famous street, Böttcherstraße, in just a few minutes on foot via a cross passage.
This street is home to several sites of interest. These include the Kunsthalle, the Weserburg Museum, the Paula Modersohn-Becker Museum, the Glockenspiel, and the Sieben Faulen Brunnen.
There are also restaurants, and you can watch sweets being made at the Bonbon Manufaktur. The buildings were constructed between 1922 and 1933. They were designed by the architect and artist Bernhard Hoetger. The buildings are named after businessman Ludwig Böttcher, who provided most of the financing.
The entrance to Böttcherstraße is marked by a gate adorned with the gilded copper relief “Lichtbringer” by Bernhard Hoetger. The gable above is supported by statues of the seven lazy men designed by Aloys Röhr.
After a few steps, you reach the market square, the center of Bremen. In 2004, UNESCO added Bremen’s market square to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The square is dominated by Bremen’s town hall and the Roland statue, which was erected in front of the town hall and looks toward the cathedral. The statue symbolizes the Hanseatic League’s independence from the church and, later, the Holy Roman Empire. The Town Musicians of Bremen and the Heralds are worth seeing near the Town Hall.
Across from the town hall stands the magnificent Schütting House, which was once a meeting place for Bremen’s merchants and is now the seat of the Chamber of Commerce
We walk around the town hall and reach the Domshof, where the Studierendenwerk building and the university cafeteria are located. Markthalle Acht is on the opposite side. After passing the Bismarck monument, we visit the cathedral.
Then, we walk along Balgenbrückstraße and Lange Wieren to Gasthof zum Kaiser Friedrich, where we reserve a table for the next day. The inn is named in memory of Frederick III, the German emperor who reigned for only 99 days.
We arrive at the entrance to the Schnoorviertel district. This district is one of the most charming and picturesque in Bremen. It is known for its narrow, cobbled streets and alleyways, as well as its medieval houses and unique atmosphere.
Many of the buildings here are beautifully restored and date back to the 15th century, providing a sense of what Bremen may have looked like during the Middle Ages. The Schnoorviertel is full of small stores, art galleries, cafés, and restaurants. This makes it a great place for locals and tourists alike to enjoy, as there is always something new to discover.
As dusk falls, we return to the market square to see the illuminated town hall and watch the carillon in Böttcherstraße.
Then, we have dinner at the “Permanent Representation Rhineland, Bremen,” located across the street.
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