Spitzen Gebel (literally: "pointed gable") is a historic building in the centre of Bremen, Germany, located at No. 1, Hinter dem Schütting. Its origins date to the year 1400, but it was rebuilt in the Gothic style in 1590 with additions in 1610. Since 1973, it has been a listed building.

History

Dating from the time around 1400, the Spitzen Gebel is the oldest town houseSpitzen Gebel
Bremen tourist board, retrieved 16 January 2014 and the last of its kind in Bremen. The building has served as both a shop and a private residence over the centuries. Its Low German name stems from the pointed

gable A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system used, which reflects climate, material availability, and aesth ...

crowning its facade. It was a wine house, a butcher's shop and a tavern until in 1913 it became an office for the ''Vereinigten Klavierträger'' (united piano movers). As a result, the older residents of Bremen still remember it as the ''Klavierträgerhaus'' (piano movers' house). The building has been altered on several occasions. The projecting

bay window A bay window is a window space projecting outward from the main walls of a building and forming a bay in a room. Types Bay window is a generic term for all protruding window constructions, regardless of whether they are curved or angular, or ...

s, a popular feature in Bremen, and the east doorway were added in 1590. The main doorway was completed in 1610. In 1944, the building suffered serious war damage. A watercolour from 1945 shows a ruined brick building although the characteristic gable can still be seen. By 1950, the house had been fully restored under the guidance of architects Herbert Anker (1908–1987) and Bernhard Wessel (1904–1976). A restaurant soon opened inside.

Heritage

The building is considered important for the city's heritage and it is listed. A bronze sculpture ''Fietje Balge'' by the sculptor Bernd Altenstein was erected in the street outside in 2007. A nearby plaque explains the history of the River Balge which once passed nearby.Plaque about Balge
Wikimedia commons, retrieved 23 March 2014

Strange tradition

Today's tavern practices a tradition that goes back to 1913 when the piano movers used the premises. As they were not permitted to drink at work, they filled an old lamp with

schnapps Schnapps ( or ) or schnaps is a type of alcoholic beverage that may take several forms, including distilled fruit brandies, herbal liqueurs, infusions, and "flavored liqueurs" made by adding fruit syrups, spices, or artificial flavorings to neu ...

and took a slurp from time to time without anyone noticing. Today tourists in particular enjoy taking a ''Sluk ut de Lamp'' (swig from the lamp) when they visit the bar. The schnapps is made from a centuries-old Swedish recipe which is still a family secret.

References

External links

Spitzen Gebel website
{{Bremen Buildings and structures in Bremen (city) Gothic architecture in Germany Drinking establishments in Germany