Schnoor

The Schnoor is the oldest surviving quarter of Bremen, a knot of narrow lanes lined with tiny gabled cottages from the 15th to 18th centuries. Its name refers to the way the little houses were once strung together like beads on a cord, and the alleys were home to fishermen and craftspeople. Today the restored buildings hold small galleries, jewellers and cafes in rooms barely wider than a doorway. Some passages narrow so tightly that neighbours could once shake hands across the street.