Bremen

Bremen is the smallest state in the German federal system and includes the cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven. That constellation is a result of the environmental change during the 19th century, when the port of Bremen along the river Weser became more and more shallow and sandy. As Bremen´s flourishing economy needed access to a port, they bought a piece of land from the then Kingdom of Hanover, located at the site where the river Weser enters the North Sea. This way, Bremerhaven was founded.

The city of Bremen is much older than Bremerhaven and dates back to medieval times, when it was part of the Hanseatic League. Its market place with the St. Petri Dome and the Town Hall is also of medieval age and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage list. Today, the city of Bremen has ~570 000 inhabitants. Probably the two most famous things about Bremen, apart from its cultural heritage, are the fairy tale about the Bremen Town Musicians and Beck´s Beer, which is brewed in Bremen.