Bremen has many museums showcasing its interesting history. But art enthusiasts won’t be left out either with a terrific collection at the Kunsthalle, and an amazing art theft tale that sounds like the latest Tom Hanks flick!
Bremen Museums
Focke-Museum (Heerstraße 240)
This Bremen museum is one major attraction in this town. Anyone wanting to know about the 1000-year history of art and culture in Bremen would do well to pay the Focke-Museum a visit.
You’ll see exhibits about Bremen in different eras of its history and learn about how the town was once a maritime power. There’s Roman artifacts for lovers of classical history, and Americans will take note of Norddeutscher Lloyd Shipline’s documents about the emigration of Germans to the New World.
Werder Bremen Museum (Franz-Böhmert-Straße 1c )
Football or Soccer fans take note! This Bremen museum features the champions’ cup, soccer jerseys and other Werder team-related memorabilia.
Harbor Museum Speicher XI (Am Speicher XI 1)
This interactive museum is a great way to experience the old maritime charms of Bremen. In the Harbor Museum (Hafenmuseum), you can learn about the everyday life of a sailor through personal diaries and tales, or check out the models of ships used during the past.
Bremen Galleries
Kunsthalle (Am Wall 207)
This Bremen museum is a must for art lovers. The Kunsthalle features some classic paintings, particularly from the 19th and 20th centuries. Some famous names here include Delacroix, Rembrandt and Rubens. There is also a wonderful collection of sculptures from the 16th century through today.
However, the Kunsthalle gallery is particularly famous for the return of precious artwork that was stolen in the Second World War. Their story is unbelievable: hidden by Nazis, confiscated by the KGB and stolen from an Azerbaijani museum only to turn up in New York City with a Japanese businessman in 2001. Huh?
The stolen property — including paintings by Rembrandt and Dürer — is on display, but you may need to call ahead for a special appointment.
Weserburg Museum of Modern Art (Teerhof 20)
The Weserburg showcases an impressive assortment of contemporary works and is one of the largest museums of its kind in Germany. If you have any curiosity about the art movements of the last half-century, you’re sure to find out more at this Bremen gallery.
Böttcherstrasse Art Museums (Böttcherstrasse 6-10)
This first-of-its-kind gallery is dedicated to the works of a female artist, Paula Modersohn-Becker. Check out the paintings of this trailblazing German expressionist artist. The museum also features medieval art and silverware.
