Bremen is one of the most ancient cities in Germany. It was founded by Charlemagne in 787. Since the IX century, it has become an important religious center, and later the fame of a free trading city came to it. The preserved monuments of the Middle Ages are living evidence of the prosperity of Bremen for many centuries. On the Market Square in front of the statue of Roland, tourists seem to be transported to the XV century, and the elegant forms of the Renaissance town hall make you sincerely admire the local architecture.
Sometimes it seems that modern Bremen is torn out of the usual flow of time. A similar feeling often visits travelers while walking through the ancient streets of European cities. Before my eyes are century–old facades and paving stones from the reign of the Dukes of Saxony, and literally a few blocks away there are already quite modern shops and offices.