Bremen

Bremen is the smallest state in Germany, a city-state in the northwest consisting of the two cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven. A historic Hanseatic trading port on the Weser River, it retains a proud maritime and mercantile heritage. Despite its tiny size, it is a significant port and aerospace center.

The state comprises two separate urban enclaves along the Weser River, surrounded by the state of Lower Saxony, with Bremerhaven sitting at the river's mouth on the North Sea. The terrain is flat, and the climate is mild and maritime.

Bremen's culture is rooted in its Hanseatic, seafaring past, celebrated in its medieval market square and the famous Town Musicians of Bremen folk tale. It has a lively, independent character and a strong trading identity.

A free imperial city and member of the powerful Hanseatic League, Bremen has governed itself for centuries. It remained a free city through German unification and became one of the federal states of modern Germany.