How about a tale of generosity etched in bronze? Right before you stands the Gräfin Emma Statue. It is more than just a sculpture. It is a reminder of a legendary act of kindness.
This monument honors Gräfin Emma of Lesum. She was a noblewoman who lived around the year 1000. She is Bremen’s first known female resident by name. The Gräfin Emma Statue was erected in 2009. The Heimat- und Verschönerungsverein Lesum commissioned it.
Look closely at the statue’s details. Notice the fish and bread in her arms. These symbolize her charitable nature. Gaze at the subtle gleam of real gold leaf. It highlights her importance to Bremen’s history.
The artist Christa Baumgärtel created this artwork. Lothar Rieke assisted with the casting. Baumgärtel is also responsible for other Bremen landmarks. These include the Kaisen bust and the Mudder Cordes memorial.
Gräfin Emma lived on her Lesum estate. It was likely near today’s Haus Lesmona in St. Magnus. She was known for her generosity. After her death, she was even venerated as a saint.
Legend says Gräfin Emma gifted the Bürgerweide to Bremen’s citizens. But her brother-in-law, Duke Bernhard I, set a condition. Only the land a crippled man could crawl around from sunrise to sunset would be given. The Bürgerweide became a communal area for the city. Today, the Freimarkt fair is held there.
Interestingly, another monument exists. It depicts both Gräfin Emma and Duke Benno in Bremen-Schwachhausen. It also commemorates this legendary land grant.
The Gräfin Emma Statue before you serves as a visual reminder. It embodies the spirit of giving. It links Bremen’s past with its present. It tells a story of a compassionate woman whose legacy lives on. The Gräfin Emma Statue isn’t just bronze and gold leaf. It is a symbol of Bremen’s values.