Roselius-Haus Museum

The House of the Glockenspiel (Haus des Glockenspiels) on Bremen's Böttcherstraße is a historic landmark that has been a protected monument since 1973. Originally converted between 1922 and 1924 by the architects Eduard Scotland and Alfred Runge for the Bremen-Amerika-Bank, the building served the coffee merchant Ludwig Roselius and his HAG company. Today it houses the archive and administration of Böttcherstraße GmbH, as well as the Atlantis art-house cinema and a variety of offices and shops. The special appeal of the site, however, lies in its architectural connection to the neighboring Roselius House, where a rotating tower segment forms the centerpiece of the complex.

Inaugurated in May 1934, the glockenspiel consists of thirty Meissen porcelain bells, which were originally blue on the outside and gilded on the inside. It is considered unique because it is installed under the open sky, without a surrounding resonating structure. As the bells chime, ten carved and painted wooden panels rotate, designed by Bernhard Hoetger and executed by Victor Kopytko. These panels depict scenes of famous conquerors of the ocean, including historical figures such as Leif Eriksson, Christopher Columbus, and Charles Lindbergh, as well as pioneers of airship travel. With them, Ludwig Roselius wanted to create a monument to humankind's pioneering spirit.

After damage in World War II and several restorations, most recently with new control electronics in 2009, the installation can now be operated entirely by remote control. The bells ring out at set times, playing melodies that range from folk songs to compositions by Richard Wagner and Johannes Brahms. You'll experience a fascinating mix of acoustic art and moving pictorial history that reflects Bremen's maritime and exploratory tradition.