Bremen Old Town
A Gothic town hall and a stone knight, listed together by UNESCO as symbols of civic independence.
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The Rathaus was built from 1405 and given a Weser Renaissance front in 1612, and its interior survived the Second World War intact, including the Upper Hall with its ship models hanging from the ceiling. In front stands the Roland, a stone figure over five metres tall erected in 1404 holding a sword of justice, put up as a statement of the city's imperial immediacy and freedom from the archbishop; UNESCO listed both together in 2004. Beside the town hall stands the bronze of the Bremen Town Musicians of 1953, a donkey, dog, cat and cockerel from the Grimm tale; visitors grip the donkey's front legs for luck.
What you actually see
- The town hall - a Gothic building with a 1612 Renaissance front and intact interior.
- The Roland - a 1404 stone figure asserting the city's freedom.
- The Town Musicians - the 1953 bronze of the Grimm tale animals.
- The Böttcherstrasse - a 1920s expressionist brick street off the square.
When to go
April to October; the town hall interior is seen on guided tours at set times and closes for civic functions. Christmas markets fill the square in December.
Honest expectations
Town hall access is tour-only with fixed times. The square is crowded in season. The Musicians statue always has a queue.
Nearby
The Schnoor quarter lies south; Bremerhaven is downriver.
What to pack for Bremen Old Town
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
