September 28-October 2, 2026

One simply stands in awe of the beauty of the architecture of this north German city. Around every corner was another amazing building! Wonderful cobble-stoned lanes stretched into the distance, all lined with elegant buildings. Bremen, founded in the 8th Century, became wealthy because the Weser River on which it lies was navigable into the North Sea causing trade to flourish. As a free city associated with the Hanseatic League, a consortium of powerful free cities tied together by trade, its wealth fueled art and architecture.

The 18-foot Roland Statue in the main square still stands from 1404—legend says that as long as it stands, Bremen will prosper. Roland was the bravest of Charlemagne’s warriors and although killed in battle, he became the symbol of freedom. Five important buildings frame the square: The Börse, the stock exchange, with colonnades and a dome; The Schütting, the guild hall of the merchants, with a stepped gable and ornate stone carvings; the Rathaus, town hall, a Gothic brick hall with a Renaissance facade and interior painted ceilings and two large Lutheran Churches on opposite sides of the square both with tall towers. The Church of our Dear Lady is rather plain, but with an ornate pulpit featuring Moses and the four Evangelists. The St. Peter’s Cathedral is ornate with a Baroque canopy and altar and a magnificent pulpit, a gift from the Queen of Sweden. Off in every distance are more beautiful buildings.

Of special interest is the Schnoor District, narrow twisted streets lined with crooked half-timbered houses and buildings. Upscale shops and restaurants beckon as one meanders along. The Böttcherstrasse is filled with wonderful brick buildings. Master brick layers made intricate designs using brick. The Meissen porcelain carillon, 30 bells hung between the gables of the Glockenspiel House, play beautifully. As they play, a vertical cylinder rotates showing ten images of famous Atlantic crossings from Leif Erikson to Charles Lindbergh. One interesting and eye catching installation to a wall in the Böttcherstrasse is a 12×12 foot golden panel depicting an angel with a sword slaying a dragon, called the Lichtbringer. It was originally dedicated to Adolf Hitler, but rejected by him as degenerate art!

One day, Tom and Nancy, Randy and Melissa took at day trip to Celle, a well preserved medieval city with attractively carved half-timbered buildings and a beautifully painted Lutheran Chapel. They had a magnificent day! That same day, Kathy and I had a much anticipated journey going to visit her mother’s–Dr. Grandma’s–family ancestral home in Grossenkneten, a short distance from Bremen. We tried to keep our expectations in check. I had traced the Grotelüschen line back to the late 1590s in the Sage farming village which is a part of the Grossenkneten community. The St. Marien Lutheran Church, founded in the 8th Century, was the ancestral church home. It still remains. Its beautiful flower-filled cemetery has hundreds of graves. Kathy found many Grotelüschen burial sites. Unfortunately, the older graves were all destroyed during wars over the centuries. Napoleon, whose armies came through the area, purposely destroyed graveyards. He thought that by erasing history and memory he could more easily control people in the future. We were thrilled that every grave—there were hundreds—were well-tended and flower-laden. Watering stations were situated throughout and a medieval-looking brick garden shed contained tools and accessories for tending. Magnificent! It was a memorable and emotional day. Walking back to the train station, we stopped at a bakery and found poppy seed kuchen—perfect—an American Grotelüschen family favorite.

All of us on this journey loved, loved, loved Bremen and the surrounding area! It was a chill-out stop, no rushing at all, in a magnificent city.