Bremen
Art, History & Archaeology Sites & Museums
This page, part of our Germany Travel Guide, provides details of the art, archaeology and history sites, museums and related attractions to visit in the state of Bremen. Readers wishing to visit these places will find visitor information, links to official websites as well as other helpful resources. Those who have an account (free of charge) can create their own travel lists and itineraries. To benefit fully from this website’s travel planning features, see the User’s Guide. The information on this page has been put together by various members of the Archaeology Travel team, based on both personal visits and research. The page was last checked and/or updated on 25 October 2023.
Create Your Bremen Itinerary & Travel Lists
If you are planning a trip to Bremen, and other regions in Germany, you can use our Itinerary Builder with the list of sites and museums below to create your own travel lists (such as places you have been to, places you would like to visit) and itineraries. These can be shared with your friends, privately and on social media. To make use of this feature, however, you will need to login or register as a new user. Registering to use these features is free of charge. Once registered and logged in, you can use the lists below to select sites and museums you would like to add to your itinerary and/or travel lists. Please Note: the lists below only include sites and museums in the German state of Bremen, go to the German Travel Guide to find places to visit in the other states.
Archaeology & History Sites in Bremen
Town Musicians of Bremen Statue
One of the most iconic images and sights of the Hanseatic City of Bremen is the statue of the Town Musicians. Created by the German artist Gerhard Marcks in 1953, a cockerel stands on a cat that is standing on a dog, which is in turn standing on a donkey. The bronze statue is a representation of a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm and published in 1819 in Grimms’ Fairy Tales. It tells the story of four aging domestic animals, who after a lifetime of hard work are neglected by their former masters. They decide to run away and become musicians in the city of Bremen. Interestingly, they never arrive in Bremen.
Bremen Town Hall
On the north-east side of Bremen’s market square is the beautifully ornate Gothic style Rathaus, or town hall. It was built in 1405 as the seat of municipal self-government and state government and has been used as such ever since. As an example of the representation of civic autonomy and market rights the city acquired in the Holy Roman Empire, this is one of the finest. Hence why in 2004 both the building and the Roland statue standing in font of it were given UNESCO World Heritage status. The town hall is open to the public; and guided tours are available.
The Roland Statue
Erected in 1404 to replace a wooden version that had been destroyed, this is the oldest surviving example of a Roland in Europe. The statue symbolises freedom and independence of the city of Bremen. These statues were frequently erected in cities of the Holy Roman Empire as emblems of their liberty. The limestone statue itself is 5.47 m high, but with the rostrum, the supporting column and the crowning baldachin, the total height is just over 10 m. Together with the Town Hall, the statue was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2004.
Bunker Valentin Memorial
On the north bank of the Weser River, not far from the river’s mouth, is the largest free-standing bunker from WWII in Germany. During World War II the bunker served as the German Navy’s submarine shipyard. It was still in use by the Navy until 1960. Thousands of people from all over Europe were put to work here. And over 1,100 people died here during the facility’s construction. In 2010 the city of Bremen decided to run the site as a memorial, opening to the public in 2015. An information trail of 25 stations tells the horrific story of the bunker. Guided tours available on Sundays.
Old Pumping Station
An early 20th century sewage pump-house ceased to function as such in 1995. Former employees who have restored the historic machine act as your guide to the plant and the underground sewer. A small exhibition charts the history of sanitation in the city of Bremen, from when sewage was thrown into the river until contemporary efforts to provide sustainable sewage removal and treatment. In the garden see a section of the Balgekanal, Bremen’s oldest sewer.
Museums & Art Galleries in Bremen
Gerhard Marcks House
Gerhard Marcks, a German sculptor and graphic artist, is best known in Bremen for his bronze statue of the Town Musicians of Bremen. At his death in 1982 Marcks was one of Germany’s leading sculptors, whose work had been destroyed and banned by the Nazis. His works were included in the infamous 1937 exhibition of ‘degenerate art’ in Munich. The museum in his honour, containing around 12,000 of his sketches and drawings, 900 prints and 350 sculptures, was opened in 1971, and is part of the city’s Cultural Mile.
Ludwig Roselius Museum
In 1902 Ludwig Roselius purchased the Medieval house, had it restored and renovated to house his collection of Renaissance and Baroque art. Museum im Roselius-Haus was opened to the public in 1928. Rooms in the house not only display Medieval decorative and fine art, with furniture and carpets to give the atmosphere of a middle class, north German household. One of the highlights of the museum is a collection of Medieval altarpieces.
