Tea time

Tropical Butterflies

The heart of Bremen

Bremen’s beautiful townhall and that statue of Bremen Roland on the market place are both UNESCO world heritage sites. If you turn left at the townhall, you’ll find an almost inconspicuous sculpture of the probably best known animal quartet, the Town Musicians of Bremen, in the shadows of the Hansepracht and the Church of Our Lady. If your wish will really be fulfilled when you touch the donkey’s front legs, remains to be seen, but it’s definitely a good place to take a nice selfie with this animal foursome.

Moin, moin – Bremensien (typical things from Bremen) and traditions

Traditions and customs considered very important in the Hanseatic City. The Bremer Freimarkt, the biggest funfair in the North, is one of these traditions. The custom of Treppenfegen (sweeping stairs) for the gentlemen and the custom of Klinkenputzen (cleaning door handles) for the ladies who are still not married at the age of 30, has its origin on the stairs of Bremen’s Cathedral. Close to the cathedral, you may also witness pedestrians spitting on the same spot on the floor. That’s the Spuckstein (spit stone) that recalls the execution of Gesche Gottfried, a murderer who had poisoned 15 people in the 18th century. 

Window-shopping in Bremen

Böttcherstrasse connects the market place and the river Weser and is an architectonic master piece. You’ll also find some fine shops there selling souvenirs and handicraft. Our advice: buy some candies from the Bremer Bonbon Manufaktur, they come in jars, in various colours and many tastes. The old-town district Schnoor with its colourful houses and cosy cafés is the perfect place to relax and forget the time. 

Cuisine

‘Die Schlachte‘, where you’ll find numerous food stalls offering maritime treats along the river Weser, is a popular meeting place for tourists and the inhabitants of Bremen. Or you might want to grab a table in one of the restaurants in the Bürgerpark close to the hotel. Grünkohl und Pinkel (kale and a special type of sausage) is Bremen’s best known dish. You’ll find it on the menus in autumn and winter. In spring, roasted smelts will be on offer. And you should definitely enjoy Bremer Kaffeebrot with your coffee – that’s what the locals refer to as “kaffeesieren“. 

One beer for all around the world

Beck’s Export Pils in the typical green bottle was awarded the gold medal for the best of all continental beers on the occasion of the world exhibition in 1876. The beer then went on to gain world renown as “key beer”, a nick name that refers to the signet of the Bremen key on its label. The beer which was only exported until 1949 is still available in 120 countries today. There are guided tours through the brewery several time a day.