Bremen, the Schnoorviertel as Sketch.

So I promised in my To Bremen We Go post a wee look at the Schnoorviertel, the oldest part of Bremen, with about 100 houses dating from as far back as 1401. "Schnoor" comes from the German word "Schnur" which means string; the little houses are strung together like beads on a string, it was also the area where the fishermen lived, so "Schnoor" could also refer to the ropes made there. 

Here is the start of my sketchbook page, I'm hoping that the houses also look stringed together in the end. Some of the houses are reconstructed or repositioned so my plonking them together is in keeping with the idea of the Schnoorviertel, now a major tourist attraction in Bremen. Here we've got the Schiffer Haus, the Amts -Fischers-Haus and the Teestube. 

This is a plan of the Schnoor with the various houses marked on it, one of the very interesting houses is the "Hochzeit's House" (wedding house),  it is on two floors and measures in total 48sqm (tiny),  the alley is so narrow here that you can't get far enough away to take a pic! In medieval times couples rented this house to be married from and celebrated their wedding here; what with only two tiny rooms you certainly wouldn't be entertaining 150 guests, would you? It can still be rented today. 

Here's another of the beautiful houses, often they are very colourful too, and sitting infront were newly weds having their photo taken!  "Herzlichen Glückwunsch!" Congrats. 

The little cobbled alleys and wynds are so tiny that passing can be tricky, but very atmospheric and  really is like a trip in a time machine, well worth visiting. As for the weather, it is less of a pleasure! Don't forget to take a brolly!