Worpswede in Lower Saxony might be a health resort town just north of Bremen, but it’s more famous as a 19th century artists community.
From its Bronze Age beginnings, Worpswede has become the center of artistic life with painters, sculptors, writers, and crafters having lived here. In fact, some 80 former artisans of Worpswede are buried in the Zion Church Cemetery.
One of the most beautiful tombstones is one belonging to Pula Modersohn-Becker, who died shortly after giving birth to her only daughter.
The Zion Church itself is a piece of art. Some of the funding for this mid-18th century church came from none other than England’s King George II.
Because there’s so much artistic talent within a small space, you’ll be amazed at some of the stuff you’ll see. The Barkenhoff, once a farmhouse, is now a museum and studio workshop. The Haus im Schluh is a thatched roof house filled with paintings, crafts, and furniture from bygone days.
The insides of Kaffee Worpswede might not be filled with art, but the building itself is a piece of it. It’s considered to be an Expressionist building that’s been a restaurant & cafe since 1925. The hotel that was attached to it is gone, but don’t hold that against it.
One of the most beautiful pieces of art is the huge Niedersachsenstein (yeah, that’s not easy to say, is it?). This 18 meter high brick sculpture resembles an eagle and is dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the First World War.
The Bronze des Humors is also a stone monument, but this one is of a laughing Budda.
Of course, if you rather shop at a 200 year old department store, you can do it at the Kaufhaus Stolte.
Or what about pictures of a gorgeous 19th century windmill?
I don’t know if there’s something in the water in Worpswede or if all things artsy is contagious. But, I suddenly have the urge to paint something. Hmmm, maybe one day I’ll be good enough at it to live here? ;-)
