Ein Tag in Bremen – schöne Gassen und Herzblut für Kaffee

In autumn 2013 I travelled to the North Sea for the first time. We visited the Halligen at that time and were fascinated by this flat coastal landscape shaped by the tides. At the end of October, I made my way back to the North Sea coast. This time in the direction of East Frisia and on the way there a Bremen intermezzo was obvious. Not only the Town Musicians, but also the historic city center with the town hall and Schnoor have aroused my interest in the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen. And it is conveniently located on the direct route to the East Frisian Islands. I arrived by plane via Munich, but the city center of Bremen is excellently connected to the airport. 15 minutes tram ride and I’m standing in front of the Bremen town hall. A tip: the tram tickets can be bought in the tram (I searched unsuccessfully for a ticket machine at the main station).

Passionate about coffee since 1935

First of all, it should be noted that after a day of sightseeing in Bremen one thing becomes clear to me: the city has much more to offer than I thought. One of these surprising discoveries is the Münchhausen coffee roastery. The traditional roastery has been family-owned for 75 years and is the oldest family-owned roastery in Bremen. I listen intently to the explanations of Natalie Prüße, who, as the granddaughter of the founder August Münchhausen, continues the tradition together with her mother. The fine roasted aroma accompanies us on the tour of the roastery, which is also a journey back in time to the 1970s. “A lot of tact and experience,” Nathalie replies to my question about what it takes to roast good coffee and draws my attention to the quiet cracking in the roasting machine. As if there was popcorn in it. “Good espresso beans have to reach the crux twice,” she adds. I taste freshly brewed coffee from the popular holiday blend and leave the roastery richer with a strongly scented pack of espresso beans. Who can resist so much heart and soul for coffee?

Beautiful alleys #1 Schnoor

From the coffee roastery, I walk along the Weser promenade to the Schnoor district. Peter doesn’t mean well with me on this day and covers Bremen with a gray cloud cover including drizzle. However, the medieval district “Schnoor” between the Wilhelm-Kaisen-Brücke and the Kunsthalle is just as neat as I had hoped. I love alleys like this! And in addition to the oldest facades in the city, the Schnoor offers pretty backyards with design shops. Perfect for a relaxed shopping spree.

Beautiful alleys #2 Böttcherstrasse

Also worth seeing is the somewhat younger Böttcherstrasse. Most of the brick buildings here were built between 1922 and 1931 and are mainly due to the Bremen coffee merchant Ludwig Roselius. Particularly striking is the golden façade relief at the entrance to Böttcherstrasse and the mini version of the Town Musicians at the Seven Lazy Fountain in the Handwerkerhof.

Historical showpiece

Built in the 15th century and given a Renaissance façade in the 17th century, Bremen Town Hall is one of the city’s main attractions. The town hall and the Roland statue in front of it, as well as the Ratskeller, where over 650 varieties of German wines are stored, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Every day (except for special events) there are several guided tours of the town hall, which offer exciting insights into the fascinating history and the magnificent Güldenkammer. Equally interesting are guided tours of the Ratskeller (including a look into the treasure chamber) and if you feel hungry, plan a lunch stop in the historic vaulted cellar. But the most important thing is that you have both (!) legs of the donkey of the Bremen Town Musicians. Only then will a wish come true. And my city guide tells me with a twinkle in his eye that in Bremen you can touch anything that shines golden.

Lunch at the mill

Another option to fill your hungry stomach is the Mühle am Wall. Where flour used to be ground, today it is finely cooked. In this gloomy autumn weather, I opted for a warming mill pan.

Beautiful Alleys #3 The Neighborhood

In contrast to the Schnoor, I was not familiar with “Das Viertel“, as the area between the Kunsthalle and Hamburgerstrasse is called. While strolling along the Ostertorsteinweg, however, I am immediately taken by the lively quarter and its numerous specialty shops. From the shoemaker to the organic farm shop to the spice merchant, you will find everything here. And towards the evening, the street fills up with the young population of Bremen who love to go out. The Engel WeinCafé (Ostertorsteinweg 31/33) is also well frequented. I liked the cozy ambiance and the seasonally inspired menu.

Sleeping centrally

I slept centrally with a direct view of the town hall façade in the Hotel Classico. Each room is individually designed. The headless uniform statue at the edge of my bed caused some amusement on social media. As the owner told me the next morning, this is the Napoleon room. The question remains, what surprises await you in the other hotel rooms? If you are looking for a centrally located hotel room for a short stay in Bremen, the Hotel Classico is certainly not a bad choice.

Note: Bremen’s Schnoorviertel caught my eye in 2015 and made it onto my 16 travel ideas for 2016 bucket list. The short visit took place as part of a research trip and was supported by the German National Tourist Board and Bremen Tourism. Thank you very much. All impressions/opinions are, as always, mine.