The Bremen Ratskeller is the council wine cellar (German: "Ratskeller") of the Townhall of Bremen. Since it was erected in the year 1405, German wines were stored and sold there. With its history over 600 years the Ratskeller of Bremen is one of the oldest wine cellars of Germany, furthermore the oldest wine barrel of Germany, a wine from Rüdesheim which is dated 1653, is stored here.
In the cellar there has long been a traditional tavern and today a large part of it is a gourmet restaurant.
History
Since 1330, the Council of Bremen held the privilege of white wine which was valid until 1815. No citizen could sell wine without the permission of the council. All wines had to be stored in the Cellar of the council. The purpose was to control the prices and the payment of taxes.
With about 650 varieties the Ratskeller has the world's greatest selection of German wines exclusively; in total, there are about 1,200 different spirits available.
Rooms of the cellar
Extension of the Ratskeller below the townhall and the neighbouring square west of it
^"Das Rathaus, unter welchem Hauff’s der berühmte Keller ist, u. der Roland dabei sind äußerst merkwürdig u. würden die Kinder in Ekstase versetzen." Letter to Jeannette du Bois-Reymond, Hamm, 21 March 1879, Manuscript Division, Berlin State Library
^Hitler, Adolf (1 October 2000). Bormann, Martin (ed.). Hitler's Table Talk 1941–1944. trans. Cameron, Norman; Stevens, R.H. Preface and Introduction: The Mind of Adolf Hitler by H.R. Trevor-Roper (3rd ed.). London: Enigma Books. pp. 172–173. ISBN1-929631-05-7.
Literature
Hermann Entholt: The Ratskeller in Bremen. Translated from the German by Harold Styring, Bremen 1930.
