Overview
Welcome to the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Germany's only independent, two-city state, comprised of Bremen and Bremerhaven. The former is a large city in northern Germany, and the latter is the country's biggest coastal town and a major port. Located on the North Sea, the area is well known as an international trading center, as well as an important center for automobile manufacturing – in particular, for Mercedes-Benz. The city also boasts a rich 1,200-year history that eventually culminated in Bremen's evolution into an independent republic. Schnoor, the picturesque old quarter, is as good a place as any to start your tour. Follow that area by the cultural and artistic highlights along Böttcherstrasse. Notable attractions include the wonderful Rathaus building and the adjacent statue of Roland (1404). To unwind, sample some of the city's distinctive German beer.
