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loring Bremen & its surrounding areas
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Cycling through Woltmershausen to Lankenauer Höft (2/2)
The excursion ship Gräfin Emma passes by
From the stairs, the path continues towards the Weseruferpark. Around this height, a cog was recovered from the Weser silt in 1962. After years of conservation treatment, interested parties can view the restored merchant ship at the German Maritime Museum in Bremerhaven.
The 22-hectare Weseruferpark was established on former floodplains in 1972. The highlight of this expansive park in Rablinghausen, with walking paths and benches, is the 300-meter-long sandy beach, which was inaugurated in September 2009. At least something - though modest - some older Pusdorfer residents might have thought, as the neighborhood had the longest sandy beach in the Hanseatic city until the construction of Neustädter Harbor in 1960. It attracted not only people from all walks of life in Bremen but also from surrounding areas for swimming and relaxation during the four decades starting in 1920. However, swimming outside official bathing facilities along the Weser was only permitted after 1930.
Beach at Weseruferpark with a view of Überseestadt
From the beach, you can see across the river to the Überseestadt, which emerged after the turn of the millennium. The district offers some interesting spots, particularly around Europahafen (Europe Harbor), and is definitely worth a visit. However, a spontaneous visit in swimwear directly from the beach is strongly discouraged, as swimming across the river is not a good idea due to the currents and ship traffic - it’s life-threatening. If you're lucky, you might spot a seal on the beach, as they have been seen here more frequently in recent years.
Between the beach and Lankenauer Höft lies the entrance to Überseestadt on the other side of the Weser
Shortly after leaving Weseruferpark, the kilometer-long journey along the water ends at the paved and partially asphalted path upon reaching Lankenauer Höft. The headland is situated between the Weser and the entrance to Neustädter Harbor. The name of the Höft recalls the agriculturally shaped village of Lankenau, where many workers later lived and which even had a regionally famous campsite from 1953. This had to close in 1962 and, like the entire village, make way for the harbor construction.
Prominent building at Lankenauer Höft
For many years, a similarly named restaurant with a terrace view of the water was a popular destination for visitors and residents of Woltmershausen at Lankenauer Höft. However, that ended in late 2016, much to the dismay of local residents. Efforts by political authorities to find an investor for the site have so far failed. Due to the nearby harbor facilities, residential development is legally not possible, thus limiting usage options. Nevertheless, the property did not remain vacant, as after interim issues with illegal dumping on the site, it was used temporarily by creative individuals. In 2021, construction equipment finally arrived - only the tower remained. Something new, hopefully equally creative, will emerge in its place. The future will show whether the ferry connection from April to October from Höft across the Weser to Waterfront, Pier 2, and Molenturm is retained.
Behind the Höft, several ships such as the 1957-built tugboat Greif or the over 50-year-old tugboat Wümme are moored in an unrestricted part of the harbor. With this view of the harbor, this tour ends.
View into Neustädter Harbor
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Bremerhaven Havenwelten
Since early 2008, Bremerhaven has not only had a new tallest building but also a new landmark in its Weser-side skyline with the ATLANTIC Hotel SAIL City, which rises 147 meters directly behind the Weserdeich. Architecturally, the structure perfectly embodies a maritime city - it stands like a powerful, rounded ship's superstructure. On the 20th floor, at a height of 77 meters, there is an observation deck (SAIL City) that is also accessible to non-guests.
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Überseestadt (Overseas City)
When the Overseas Port required renovation, the decision was made in 1991 to simply close off the basin instead. In 1998, the Overseas Port was finally filled with sand obtained from dredging operations in the Outer Weser. Alongside the also decommissioned but still existing Europa Harbor basin, this formed the foundation for the conceptual development and creation of today's Überseestadt (Overseas City).
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Stephani district
The Stephani district forms the western end of Bremen's Old Town and is considered the birthplace of the city, making it one of its oldest districts. As early as 1050, Archbishop Adalbert I founded a priory in honor of Saint Stephen. The priory, located on a dune, was called Steffensberg (mons sancti Stephani) in German translation. Adalbert's episcopal successors established a parish and built the first church in what was then also known as Steffensstadt (Stephen’s City).
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Vegesack
Storage facilities, museum harbor with ships, Utkiek with whale jaws and more are part of Vegesack's Maritime Mile, which extends for slightly over one nautical mile (about 1.8 kilometers) to the former site of the „Bremer Vulkan“ shipyard that went into insolvency in 1996. This also includes the Stadtgarten, which stretches almost from the ferry terminal to the former „Vulkan“ site.
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