Walking. Gossip. Travel.

Category: Bremen

  • Bremen – Mall of Fame

    Bremen – Mall of Fame

    [I first posted this in April 2018 but have reposted it now with the broken image links fixed]

    20180426_133140

    Located in Lloyd Passage, a 250-metre shopping street, is Bremen’s hall of fame. Lucky individuals get to put their hands in plaster so that a cast can be made and then inserted into the floor with a plaque. It felt just like being back in Hollywood, California….

    20180426_133222

    Michael Stich, the tennis player. He was the only one that I had heard of and also the first photo that I took. I was looking forwards to other famous names and although I don’t deny that the others aren’t famous, it’s markedly less exciting when I don’t have a bloody clue who they are.

    20180426_133442

    Thomas Schaff, a German football player.

    20180426_133434

    Aílton Gonçalves da Silva, a football player.

    20180426_133246

    Karlheinz Böhm, an actor.

    20180426_133322

    Peter Maffay, a singer and actor, the first person to be honoured in this exciting walk of fame. Apparently he’s one of the most famous German musicians.

    20180426_133303

    James Last, a musician.

  • Bremen – Town Musicians of Bremen

    Bremen – Town Musicians of Bremen

    [I originally posted this in April 2018, I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links]

    20180426_131328

    The sculpture known as The Town Musicians of Bremen, from the Grimms fairy tales story of 1819.

    20180426_131324 (1)

    The sculpture dates from 1953 and it’s meant to bring good luck to stroke it. That felt entirely inappropriate for my liking, so I just took a photo.

  • Bremen – Bleikeller

    Bremen – Bleikeller

    [I originally posted this in April 2018, but have now reposted it to fix some broken image links]

    20180426_123822

    This is certainly something a little different, the Bleikeller or lead cellar. Bodies laid to rest here were mummified because of their surroundings and the cathedral had decided to display the bodies.

    20180426_124258

    The body that was on this tomb has been removed and placed on display. It seems an unusual thing to do.

    Below are some of the bodies, they know who some of them were. They include an English Lady of wealth, a German dignitary and also soldiers.

    20180426_124402

    20180426_124108

    20180426_124524

    20180426_124347

    20180426_124354

  • Bremen – Bratwurst

    Bremen – Bratwurst

    [I originally posted this in April 2018, but I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links]

    20180426_133548

    It’d be wrong to come to Germany and not have a sausage, so here’s a Bratwurst.

    20180426_133544 (1)

    Lots of choice.

    20180426_133747

    Bratwurst and pommes frites.

  • Bremen – Bremen Cathedral

    Bremen – Bremen Cathedral

    [I originally posted this in April 2018, but I’ve reposted it fixing all the broken image links]

    20180425_105351

    Bremen Cathedral was first constructed as a smaller church in 860, replacing a nearby wooden church by the river. The structure and layout that is seen today dates from 1042, although has been much changed over the centuries.

    20180425_103542

    One of the stained glass windows in the side chapel on the south nave.

    20180425_103556

    20180425_103631

    These wooden choir stalls made from oak date from the 1360s and were salvaged during a renovation which took place in the earlier nineteenth century.

    20180425_100249

    Rather a decorative cathedral, there are numerous wall paintings and decorations.

    20180425_103530

    The wooden pulpit dates to 1638 when the cathedral was re-opened following a period of closure.

    20180425_100216

    The cathedral’s rose window which has been a feature of the building since the medieval period, although particular one dates from the end of the eighteenth century.

    20180425_100430

    20180425_100427

    The eastern crypt, used for those wanting quiet worship.

    20180425_100849

    The clock dates from 1647, although I’m not sure what the cathedral are planning to do with it as it’s currently just on display on the floor.

    20180425_105014

    The western crypt, which is still used for christenings.

    20180425_105145

    Located in the western crypt this font is made of bronze and is from the early thirteenth century.

    20180425_100947

    20180425_100042

    The rather grand nave, brighter than some other cathedrals I’ve visited in northern Europe.

    20180425_105234

    The rather grand wooden front door. Next little visit was to climb to the top of the cathedral’s tower….

  • Bremen – Cathedral Museum

    Bremen – Cathedral Museum

    [I originally posted this in April 2018, but have reposted to fix the broken image links]

    20180425_101928

    Located within Bremen Cathedral is a rather lovely museum, for which they make no charge for entry.

    20180425_102113

    20180425_102450

    There are numerous climate controlled areas in the museum which display old vestments and clothing worn by Bishops at the cathedral. Some of this dates to as early as the twelfth century and it’s surprising that so much has remained relatively undamaged.

    20180425_102830

    Another Lutheran Bible with what appear to be original boards, dating to 1710.

    20180425_102727

    This iron key was used at the Cathedral between 1556 and 1638.

    20180425_102846

    A rather beautiful book, which is a a Lutheran Bible which dates to the seventeenth century, with book experts perhaps able to note if they look carefully that there is some slight fire damage.

    20180425_102750

    This is a Catholic Bible that was used in Mainz, originally printed in 1662.

    20180425_102346

    This mitre is one of the examples that dates back to the twelfth century, with traces of what was once no doubt bright gold still visible.

    20180425_101235

    The interior of the museum has some rather decorative wall paintings which are original.

  • Bremen – Roland Statue

    Bremen – Roland Statue

    [I originally posted this in April 2018 but have just reposted it to fix the broken image link]

    Roland statues date back to the medieval ages and can be found throughout Germany, with them originally being a sign of the town’s trading rights. This is a particularly interesting sculpture as it dates to 1404, replacing an earlier wooden version. It is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list and also appeared on a German coin in 2010.

  • Bremen – Bremen Library

    Bremen – Bremen Library

    [I originally posted this in April 2018, but I’ve just reposted it to fix the broken image links]

    It’s always important for me to have a little investigation of a city’s central library, a useful indicator of how important the local authorities value the resource. This library feels modern, is spacious and there are a lot of quiet places, so I’d say that Bremen certainly values its library highly.

    20180425_131821

    The outside courtyard of the library, with seating and a giant chess board.

    20180425_131116

    Themed seating, a nice little book related touch.

    20180425_131959

    A look down at the library’s collection of prints and illustrations.

    20180425_131244

    This is the main entrance area to the library, the rest of the building is a shopping centre with shops and restaurants. It’s all covered and another part of Bremen’s modern looking retail zones.

    20180425_131129

    20180425_132932

    So many books! Floors and floors of them, all clearly displayed and indexed.

    20180425_131818

    A side view of the library building. All in all, a wonderful resource which importantly wasn’t too loud. There’s a separate area for teenagers and children, with a large selection of books and DVDs in English. There’s also power sockets for computers and laptops and numerous staffed information points around the building.

  • Bremen – Bremen Cathedral (Tower Climb)

    Bremen – Bremen Cathedral (Tower Climb)

    [I originally posted this in April 2018 but I’m reporting it now with the broken image links fixed]

    When I had arrived at Bremen Cathedral the little ticket desk to the tower was closed, which I was secretly relieved about as that meant I didn’t have to climb it. I have a habit of always wanting to climb things and then immediately regretting it as it’s often too tiring or I’m reminded that I’m scared of heights.

    However, on my way out of the Cathedral I noticed that there was a man in the office ready to take money. So I couldn’t resist, paid the €2 and began the climb.

    20180425_103914

    The good news is that the climb is primarily of steps like this, which are enclosed and in solid condition. The bad news is that there are loads of them and people also have to come down the same steps, so there isn’t a huge amount of space.

    20180425_104453

    There was a platform around two thirds of the way up when I had to change which steps I went up, with a view down into a lower room. Unfortunately the cathedral just seems to be using that as a junk store, but it’d be nice to open it up with a little exhibition.

    20180425_104607

    My first reaction was that it was very windy. So windy that it was hard to even hold my phone, with the gusts of wind being enormously strong and rather never-ending. Fortunately, the edges were well protected with wire and netting, although that took away from the photos a little.

    20180425_104617

    One of the circular windows in the tower, which look rather small when viewed from ground level.

    20180425_104538

    Two things occurred to me here. One is that people are leaving money in some strange and inaccessible places which are in danger of blowing onto the heads of people below. The other is that I’ve discovered where the city centre McDonald’s is.

    20180425_104550

    The other end of the cathedral. It was certainly worth the money to climb up to the top and I was fortunate that it wasn’t at all busy, it’s almost a mystery why so few people wanted to go to the top on a windy and rainy day…. There were two visitors I did encounter at the base of the steps, but fortunately they had only climbed up two steps so they went back down again.

  • Bremen – Paulaners an der Schlachte

    Bremen – Paulaners an der Schlachte

    [I originally posted this in April 2018, but I’ve reposted them to fix some broken image links. That chicken is making me hungry….]

    20180425_125329

    As it started raining I thought it’d be a sensible decision to get back in the warm and dry. They have a big beer garden area that I’m sure is very desirable during the summer, but rather less so on a rainy April lunch-time.

    20180425_125331

    As luck would have it the building I randomly chose was a rather nice pub, with a friendly welcome being offered to confirm my very sensible decision. Although my photo looks like there was no-one inside I did that to avoid taking a picture of people eating, and it was relatively busy.

    20180425_115658

    I was also pleased to see that the pub (or bierhaus really, but I’ll call it a pub) was having a chicken Wednesday, so it felt just like being back in Wetherspoons. My German is good enough to read the special of the day was half a roast chicken (they had a whole chicken but I didn’t want to look greedy) with French fries (or some salad options that I didn’t translate) and a curry sauce. Quite lovely.

    20180425_120103

    One problem I have with beer overseas is that I never know what they have, but my request for Dunkel was understood with happy acceptance, which meant that challenge was over.

    20180425_121102

    Ooooh, that chicken was excellent. Crispy skin, tender meat and a curry sauce with a rich and deep flavour. A big of portion of chicken too and I discovered that they were roasting them in-house. This was a good lunch choice, although I noticed that they had some really decent value lunchtime meal offers going as well where you could get a main course and dessert for €7.

    All that excitement meant only one thing, it was time to investigate the city’s central library (I know how to live…..).