GERMANY - Europe by Eurail 2015: Touring Europe by Train - page 242

Bremen's oldest resident, the statue of Roland , which was erected in 1404, is
the center attraction in the market square. Roland is a symbol of justice and free-
dom. Legend has it that Bremen will not pass away as long as the stone giant is
still standing in the marketplace. Legend also has it that the city fathers have a re-
placement ready—just in case.
No one is quite certain as to Roland's origins. City history first mentions the ex-
istence of the knightly statue in the marketplace in 1366, but it was made of wood
and went up in flames. So did its wooden replacement. The stone statue has fared
better.
The 17th-century facade of the Rathaus makes it one of the most photographed
public buildings in the world. Rising above the town hall are the twin towers of
the 11th-century Saint Peter's Cathedral, site of an ancient sand dune where the
earliest Bremeners sought refuge from the surging tides of the Weser River.
Seek out the cellar of the town hall. It is said that the people of Bremen are most
at their ease in a cellar—and this cellar is one of the best. It's a Ratskeller with
more than 650 varieties of German wines to sample. Chances are if you find it, it
may be a while before you see the light of day again.
The bronze statue of Bremen's Four Musicians (the donkey, dog, cat, and
rooster) is stashed away in a cranny between the Rathaus and the Liebfrauen-
kirche, the Church of Our Blessed Lady. Be certain you find and photograph it, or
your kids will never forgive you. The Four Musicians is one of several statues erec-
ted in Bremen honoring the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. If you delve into the true
origins of the odd assortment of these domestic animals, apparently they are sym-
bolic of a peasants' revolt against aristocracy rather than the Grimms' version of
frightening off robbers—but don't tell the kids. A free open-air stage performance at
Liebfrauenkirchhof Square takes place on Sunday at noon and 1330 (May through
September).
The Böttcherstrasse, a narrow street leading off the market square, was re-
developed as a center for arts and crafts, with shops, workshops, art collections,
and fine restaurants—even a casino. At the end of the street you will come to
the Martini Church on the banks of the Weser—the area known as “the Sch-
lachte Embankment. “ Here, the redesigned riverside promenade is inviting for
leisurely strolls, and a myriad of restaurants and cafes offer national and interna-
tional cuisine. Boat tours of the Bremen harbor, the Island of Heligoland (tax-free
shopping), and other destinations depart from the piers immediately in front of the
church.
Another area that you can reach on foot by walking upstream along the banks of
the Weser is the Schnoor. The oldest surviving residential area within the city of