Jever
The ads for Jever beer ask you not to stress and not to panic. Well put! This place is relaxation in action. You do, however, have to be somewhat patient to get here. While only 100 km away from Bremen, you have to use 3 different trains. But, being Germany, the connections are pretty easy and well timed.
Follow the signs
Getting into the city from the station is a snap. Follow the big brown sign pointing into the inner city, which directs you down Schlosserstraße. After about a ten minute walk, you come across a small park, and across the street again is the beginning of the pedestrian area in the old city center. From here, a large church comes into view, along with the statue of the lady water bearer with dog (see above). The statue is meant to be a reminder of the days foregone, when people had to bring water from the pump into their homes.
Tourist Office
On market days, such as the one when I visited, the stalls run all around the church in the middle. The pedestrian zone forks before the marketplace. To the right on Große Burgstraße, you can walk down towards the castle and in the direction of the tourist office. The center has maps available right outside the office on a tear-off pad. All the tourist attractions are listed and the map is clear. There are also bathrooms located on the upper floor of this building.
Schloß
The castle is right across the street and is simply called, Castle Jever. www.schlossmuseum.de Inside, one can visit the various intricate castle salons and see exhibits on such themes as gobelin tapestries, German porcelain figures, period rooms and also a spookily dark upstairs exhibit including paintings and period fashions. Visit the basement to see some pieces from the middle ages. The castle is surrounded by a great garden with wandering peacocks. Enjoy the shade from the large trees and watch the ducks swim in the moat. Enter through one of the gates on either side of the museum entrance. The park is free for visitors, although the museum has a minimal charge. There is an additional tour and separate ticket available for the castle tower.
Glockenspiel
Near the castle, in the Schloßplatz, is the hanging Glockenspiel. The fountain in the middle of the plaza is unique in that it has figures of historical importance for Jever, and some have moveable legs and arms. Children of all ages are free to play.
The Old Harbour and the Blaudruckerei
From the “Alter Markt”, walk up Neue Straße into the second pedestrian area. There are lots of nice places to sit and relax for a bite to eat in this area. Be sure to explore the side streets off to the right, as there are also restaurants here, along with the “Blaudruckerei” or printer’s shop. Walking out of this area, onto the Schlachte, one finds the ship shaped playground for kids, which is a monument to the harbor area that once was. Around the corner from the ship, down Hooksweg, is the old windmill, including a mill and farming museum.
Jever Beer
So, all this information is great, and all these sights are worth seeing. But when Germans think Jever, they think about beer. Jever is a quite famous brand in Germany, and the town is a testament to this. There is a Jever shop, most of the bars have Jever umbrellas or Jever signs, and the brewery and museum stand just a few hundred meters from the city center. Tours are available. Do not, I repeat, do not leave town without trying a variety of Jever! An alcohol free variety is available. The beer is slightly bitter from the Friesian herbs and is served in a big round glass. Enjoy!
How to get there: Ok. This is the complicated part. From the Bremen train station, take the train to Oldenburg. From here, you switch onto the NWB (NordWestBahn) system. The tickets purchased from Deutsche Bahn work perfectly well on these trains. NWB trains also have ticket machines available onboard, which are pretty simple to use.
From Oldenburg, take the train to Sande, and from Sande, take the train on the opposite side of the tracks to Jever. The end station is generally written on the train and should be stated as Esens.
While this is generally how one arrives at Jever, please check time tables available on the Deutsche Bahn website, on the ticket machines in the station, or at one of the travel centers, also located in the train stations. Don’t be nervous, the trains are generally easy to use!
Great things: This is a beautiful city. Come visit! The webpage is also well designed and fun.
Date of visit: July 18, 2006
Jever website: www.stadt-jever.de