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Bremen is a major cultural and economic hub of Northern Germany. The city is home to dozens of historical galleries and museums, ranging from historical sculptures to major art museums, such as the Bremen Overseas Museum (Übersee-Museum Bremen). The Bremen City Hall and the Bremen Roland are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
- Overview
- Geography
Bremen, city and Land (state), northwestern Germany. An enclave within the state of Lower Saxony, the state of Bremen comprises the German cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven. Bremen, the capital, is situated on the Weser River some 43 miles (70 km) from the North Sea. It is one of the largest ports of Germany and also one of the major industrial citi...
Located at the first ford above the river estuary, the Old Town of Bremen grew on a sand dune, sited above flood level on the Weser spillway, the glacially widened river channel. The windblown sand accumulated, in the postglacial period, up to a height of 45 feet (15 metres) above the flat marshes and moors of the Bremer Becken (lowlands). Because of the effect of North Sea tides and of the high subterranean water level, 71 miles (114 km) of dikes, associated with a complicated drainage system, play an important role in the Bremen urban area. The dune—25 miles (40 km) long and 2 miles (3 km) wide—has thus decisively influenced the northward and southward expansion of the city. The territorial possessions of the city also include large sections of swampy cultivated lowlands and stretches along the Weser, which became associated with the rise of further smaller settlements. The gradual incorporation of these rural communities—which had always had close economic relations with Bremen—started in 1849 and in 1945 brought the administrative area of the city of Bremen to its contemporary size.
Bremen ranks among the largest cities in Germany. Its population growth since the 19th century has been linked closely with its economic development. World War II saw a decline in the war-torn city’s population, but it rose sharply with the extensive postwar reconstruction. The vast majority of Bremen’s citizens are Protestants.
The economic life of the state reflects the historical interconnection of shipping, foreign trade, and industry. The port facilities of Bremen and Bremerhaven, which, administratively and economically, form one unit, incorporate free-port status, whereby imported goods can be handled and stored without time limits and without customs formalities. Bremerhaven handles about one-fourth of the total tonnage of goods in the two ports, just over half of which is mixed cargo, the remainder being composed of such bulk goods as grain, coal, ore, and oil. The merchant fleet of Bremen consists of several hundred seagoing vessels and many barges. The city of Bremerhaven, which covers 31 square miles (80 square km), was founded as an outer port for Bremen because of the silting up of the lower Weser. Today the port of Bremerhaven is the home of a large fishing fleet.
In Hanseatic times Bremen’s importance rested almost entirely on its character as a trading centre and as a seaport for handling raw materials and foodstuffs. Since the end of the 18th century, the port has handled, in increasing quantities, grain, timber, coffee, tobacco, wool, and cotton. These items are processed by local firms, which are among the largest of their kind in the country.
Originally, the city’s entire industrial potential—except for food industries—depended upon the shipyards and their supporting firms. After 1900 the Bremen economy became increasingly diversified, supplying the internal market and ensuring sufficient freight for outward-sailing ships.
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- Bremen Cathedral. St Peter’s Cathedral commands the central market square has 1,200 years of history. Unsurprising given its age, the building is a mishmash of styles, with Romanesque, Gothic and bits of later Gothic Revival sprinkled in following restorations in the 19th century.
- Cathedral Museum. After restorations in the 1970s and 80s, the artefacts unearthed during digs were put on show at an exhibition space inside the cathedral.
- Bremen City Hall. One of the most beautiful civic buildings, not just in Germany, but all of Europe, Bremen’s City Hall earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 2005.
- Marktplatz. We’ve already mentioned the cathedral and town hall, which together could keep you on the central market square for half a day. But apart from the historic gabled houses overlooking the square there are a few other monuments to look for.
Bremen's urban diversity, vibrant culture and laid-back, tolerant atmosphere is what makes the city so fascinating. Bremen is always ready to welcome visitors with open arms, with its almost infinite variety of arts, music, experiences, gastronomic delights and scientific wonders, against the imposing backdrop of a World Heritage site!
Home. Tourism. This is Bremen. The Hanseatic city of Bremen is the vibrant heart of north-west Germany and home of the famous Bremen Town Musicians. It’s a city where different aspects of history, tradition, science, nature and culture come together to form a fascinating whole. Simply put, Bremen is well worth discovering. © WFB. Bremen - One Love.
Bremen was once a member of the medieval Hanseatic League and is still one of the most important cities in northern Germany. Together with the city of Bremerhaven on the North Sea it forms Germany's smallest state. Bremen has more than 1200 years of history, and was, for most of its existence, an independent city-state.
Dec 17, 2021 · 1. An economic powerhouse. Nearly 700 years ago, merchants throughout central and northwestern Europe banded together to form a guild. This Hanseatic League would link nearly 200 towns and cities in the interest of trade promotion and shared defense.
