Schifferhaus

Schifferhaus stands in Bremen’s Schnoor district, the oldest part of the Free Hanseatic city. Built beside the southern bank of the Klosterbalge, a medieval Weser tributary, it carries a preserved timber frame. Stone-filled panels distinguish the building from many neighbouring half-timbered houses with clay and straw roofs.

Construction began in 1630, followed by extensions in 1750 and around 1920. Several beams remain about 400 years old. During the nineteenth century, the ground floor held an inn while travellers found accommodation above. From 1919 until the mid-twentieth century, boat supplies and groceries filled the premises, linking daily trade with Bremen’s maritime life.

Theodor Dahle later created a private museum showing a historic inn inside the building. Around 1975, the museum expanded through the upper floors. Later uses included the WeserStrom association’s office, an art and antiques shop, and the Künstlerhaus im Schnoor gallery. The strongest detail remains the contrast between weathered beams and the costly stone infill.