Honestly, if you're wondering why I'm talking about Bremen, Indiana at all, it's the slanted mix of German founder romanticism and Indiana flatland that comes together here. The city was founded in 1857 by German immigrants – a bit like a mini-kiez from old Bremen, only that the brick houses here are more of wood and bricks and the whole village is surrounded by the fields of German Township. I don’t understand the hype about “Bremen Sights” because this is rather a quiet place, but that’s exactly what makes the charm: no crowded tourist streams, a real feeling of home.
If you arrive by car from South Bend or even from Chicago, simply follow US‐30 to Marshall exit; the country roads lead you directly to the heart of the township, where you will find the small city centre of Bremen – a few shops, a café that has more character than some big city chains. The railway station, a relic from the railway-golden period, is no longer in operation, but a perfect spot for a photo you can later show to your friends. And yes, Marshall County is just a stone's throw away if you're looking for a quick look at the local archives.
I have the feeling that people here consciously screw down the pace of life – no joke, that is almost a lifestyle statement. And that, my dear travelers, is what I want to put you to your heart: a short stop, a bit of history inhale and then move on before you get too used to the calm life. Who knows, maybe you will discover another “Bremen Sights” highlight that I have not yet discovered.
With the map tool, you can plan the ideal location for a photo online in advance – taking into account the sun's path and the surroundings.
Here's how it works:
Advantage:
You can assess light, perspective and location before visiting the site – ideal for photography, sunrises and sunsets.
To find the exact point where the sun disappears behind the skyline, use the azimuth display on poi-travel.de. In Bremen, the sun travels further northwest below the horizon in summer, while in winter it takes a more southwesterly angle. With the embedded line on the map, you can determine your tripod position down to the metre.
The first place I have to mention is the venerable St. John Lutheran Church, which has throned over the small village since 1865 and has more stories to tell than some guides. I took place there once at a Sunday worship service – not because I am particularly believing, but because I simply couldn't resist the creeping wooden bench and the crunching light through the stained glass windows. The cemetery behind the nave is a silent witness of the German immigrants, and parking is almost always a Klacks, as long as you do not come to the wedding fair on Saturday night, then the field in front of the church becomes a small battlefield from cars.
A short walk down the main road leads to Bremen Water Tower, a rusty colossus from the 1920s, which today serves more as a photo motif than a functional water tank. I made a selfie there once, while a tractor pushed by – the picture got more likes than my last vacation photos, no joke. The tower stands on a small hill, so the ascent and descent is a mini-workout that should not be missed if you want to burn calories from the burger in the diner anyway.
If you have enough of concrete and history, the way over the field leads to White River. The river is gently sloping through the countryside and offers anglers and canoes a quiet place that you can hardly find in travel guides. I once tried to catch a pike and instead landed with an old rubber boot shoe sole in the water – a real highlight moment I recommend to anyone who wants to experience the real Indiana. The shore is usually free, but on the weekend it can suddenly be full of families with picnic baskets, so it's better to be there early if you're looking for a little privacy.
Just a couple of miles away Marshall County Historical Museum in the neighboring town of Marshall. The museum is a collection of ancient school benches, agricultural machinery and an impressive collection of photographs that bring rural life in the early 20th century. document the century. I have seen a guided tour there with an extremely enthusiastic curator who explained to me why the old barn in the backyard was actually a secret meeting place for domestic dance evenings – I think he has exaggerated that a bit, but the idea is brilliant. Parking is available directly in front of the building, and parking is almost always free, except in the rare days where the museum has special exhibitions and then suddenly a car park camp is created as at a concert.
Another highlight I don't want to conceal is that Bremen Community Center. Locals meet here for bingo envoys, yoga classes and occasional country concerts that have more charm than any big city hall. I was once at an “Old-Time-Fiddle” evening, where an older gentleman from the 1940s unpacked his violin and put the crowd in a trance-like state – that was really great, not a joke. The center has a small parking lot behind the building; on weekends it can be full, but a short walk from the main road is still the fastest solution.
The Bremen Township Park mentioned, an inconspicuous green strip with a playground, a picnic area and a small lake, which invites you to duck feeding in summer. I once organized an improvised grill festival with a few neighbors, and the result was a slightly burnt hot-dog classic who still tasted better than anything I got in a restaurant. The park is accessible free of charge, and parking is usually an open field behind the entrance area – as long as you don't have a flea market event on the first Saturday of the month, then the field becomes quickly a labyrinth of stands.
Whether the historical walls of the St. John Lutheran Church admiring, White River let the soul bangle or in Marshall County Historical Museum wants to plunge into the past – the surroundings of Bremen, German Township, Marshall, Indiana have more to offer than one would suspect at first sight. And if you have experienced all this, you can say with a satisfied smile that you are the true Bremen sights discovered.
I have to admit right at the beginning that my heart beats for the old town hall in Bremen – the gracious, red-closed building on Main Street, which looks like it survived the Great Depression to tell us today how to rule a little town. I once caught a city councillor at lunch, as he secretly stole a piece of cheesecake, and that was for me the proof that there is still real, slightly chaotic humanity. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the annual “Bremen Fest” blocks the road.
A short walk further historical school building, which today houses the Museum of the Bremen Historical Society. I don't quite understand the hype about old classrooms, but the exhibition about German immigration here in the Middle West is really fascinating – especially the old typewriter exhibit, which I mistakenly held for an art object, until a museum guide explained to me that this is not a modern art work, but a piece of everyday history.
If you are looking for a place where you can recover from the noise of the city (or better said, from the lack of noise), then look at the Bremen Public Library on. I once borrowed a book about the history of the corn fields, because I thought that would be a good conversation for the next barbecue. The library is small, but the staff is friendly and the Wi-Fi works – a real blessing if you want to post your Instagram story about the “rustic life”.
A bit further south, right at the intersection of County Road 400 and Main Street, this is Water tower from Bremen. The tower is not exactly an architectural miracle, but it is a good photo motif if you want to capture the light of the sunset. I once made a picnic there because I thought that was romantic, and then a tractor came by, which made the whole a little less romantic – but hey, that's the real land life.
For those who prefer to be active, Bremen Town Park A must. The park has a baseball field, a few basketball basketball baskets and a small playground that offers more rusty chains than modern play equipment. I started a spontaneous baseball game with a few locals there, and the result was that I lost more balls in the bush than I landed hits – yet a huge fun, and the garage (actually only a small parking lot) is almost always free as long as you are not there on Sunday morning.
Another highlight that I personally always underestimate is that Community Center. Many think this is just a place for senior citizens, but there are regular art exhibitions, yoga courses and even a weekly cooking evening where local hobby chefs present their best recipes from German cuisine. I was once at the “Käsespätzle-Abend” and learned that the locals prefer to serve their late zle with a shot of apple cider vinegar – a trick I have never forgotten since.
And because I'm just on the subject of culture: if you're looking for "Bremen Sights", you'll quickly realize that the city is small, but every corner breathes a bit of history. The combination of historical architecture, friendly people and a pinch of rural serenity makes the whole an unexpectedly charming destination – at least for me, the easy cynical guide who shares his favorite places here, while at the same time trying not to be blinded too much by the idyll.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
