"Bremen: City Hall and the Famous Roland" Top 5 Page for this destination Germany Things to Do Tip by Weissdorn

The have the same age, and people claim that both have part of the city for the last 600 years: The City Hall and the statue of Roland von Bremen.

The stone giant is probably the oldest surviving monumental statue in Germany. Maybe the city hall can thank Roland for the protection from his shield that the elegant renaissance face of city hall just missed being nearly obliterated by bombs. In any case, the giant Roland has been the symbol of economic independence since the middle ages. And Bremen has always been proud of their Roland.

"There is no higher honor than being a citizen of Bremen". With this statement, it was not possible for members of the Bremen city council to accent other offices, noble titles or rewards. Through talented diplomacy the city councilmen and the mayor were able to protect the interests of the independent town, which had reached its fame through maritime trade. They held their meetings in this opulent city hall. From this standpoint, they could look out on city of their hearts; on the cathedral, the guild house and the fine houses of their guildsmen. The high narrow windows on the east and the west sides mark the gothic influence of the hall. In 1612 main facade of this fortress-like town hall was restyled to adapt to the taste of the times. This remodeling was a reaction to the more generous newer type of architecture that fit to more self-confident businessmen: architecture as a reflection of the growing economic of an emerging city-state.

The Bremen City Hall is not just another architectural monument; it represents the freedom of the Bremen citizens for the past six centuries. It is inseparable from its function as the governmental seat of power in the smallest state in Germany today; the City-State of Bremen. These two unique works of architecture were taken onto the list of the UNESCO's list of World Cultural Heritage because their symbolization is nearly as great as their architecture is.

Website: http://www.bremen.de