Brake (Unterweser) in Lower Saxony isn’t your typical medieval village. It was once used for training facilities for sailors and the Navy. Many sailors has come through Brake on their way to the North Sea and ports unknown.
Now it’s a wonderful fishing and sailing village that celebrates all things seaworthy.
The first stop should be the Brake Navigation Museum opened in 1965. See how sea travel has changed through the centuries with old sea charts and nautical instruments.
The Plassmannvilla, looking like a huge white Victorian mansion, is a testament to the wealth of the sea here in Brake when Mr. Plassmann made his fortune selling the much needed building materials to the local shipyards at the turn of the 20th century.
A hop on the ferry (which operates every 15 minutes) over to Harriersand with its eight miles of beaches will be great for the entire family. There are plenty of old farms to see on the bicycle path, a tourist cafe for a bite to nosh, and playground for the little ones. The Brake Port looks postcard perfect with ships bound for the North Sea.
For the fisherman in you, fishing’s allowed at the East and West Ponds and from the Brommy to Road Bridges. Water is the theme here in Brake and there’s both an indoor and outdoor pool (with waterslides).
For those of you without sea legs, the Pedestrian District is chocked full of shops and bistros. There’s also the Optical Telegraph, a tower of bricks that held the telegraph lines between Bremen and Bremerhaven at the turn of the last century.
The Fischer House, a half timbered home from 1731, was lovingly restored to its original state and located close to the pedestrian district.
Then we’ve got a few churches to see, such as the Friedrichskirche, a 18th century church and the burial place of Brake’s most famous residents. Brake’s oldest church, the Parish Church Bartholemew built in the 13th century, has one of the famous Arp Schnitger organs.
You’re also be plenty entertained with a comedy or tragedy at Brake’s “Shakesperian type” city theater.
No matter what you choose to do or see in Brake, you’ll love all things nautical!
