"Bremen Germany" a Bremen Travel Page by schnezana

Hanseatic Bremen is a very old city with a lot of history. There are many nice old buildings, of course, rebuilt after the extensive boombing of this port city during WWII. The city center is of special interest, for its many old buildings and its Dom. Which is 1200 years old. Often, due to lack of parishoners, there are concerts held there on some evenings. At the time of reaching 30, if a Bremer man or woman is unmarried they must go to the steps of the church and do domestic things, hang clothes, wash dishes, or such. While all the time paserbys as well as their family and friends gently poke fun at them. It is an old tradition and quite interesting. I suppose that the premice is that they will not want to do it, and therefore will marry sooner than later.

Across the market place from the Dom is the Rat House (City Hall) with a very costly, high class restaurant with a fine Italian chef in the upper portion, and in the Keller (cellar) in a very lovely wine restaurant. For those of you on a tight budget, Mc Donald's is across the street.

If you cross over to Mc Donald's, face the bank and the tram tracks then turn to your right and walk down the street about half way, then cross over, you will find yourself at the entrance to the famous Schnore (string). A lovely, charming and trendy section of town that is noted for its narrow streets. Do not be alarmed if you do not come out the same way you went in, it is tiny and very confusing. Not to worry, there are many entrances and exits, plenty of Pubs and food....just come out and refer to your map if you are not directional.

If you fear the tangle of the Schnore, then face the Dom from the Mc Donald's corner and walk through the covered walkway to your left and you will end up at another plaza full of old Bremer style buildings (today housing banks, restaurants or shops) and there at the front of the square is the Roland statue. This is where all of the demonstrations are held or form. Bremer folk do love to protest too much! Roland was, like all statues in Europe, a monument to a dead King who was well liked and a fovorite of the populus.

If you are in the Market Platz in the morning or early afternoon you can shop at the open air market. It is chock-a-block full of everything from Lottery Tickets, to Wurst (German sausages), to flowers (at very very reasonable prices!), and many freesh food stuff from olives to chickens or fresh produce and fruit. At Christmas this area is transformed into a Christmas Markt (market) and there you may do all of your shopping and drink while you do it. There is (at Chritmas only) an ancient Pipe Organ grinding out music.

Please, don't write to me and ask me to put of photographs...I will as soon as I run across a scanner! Just see my other pages!