Worpswede

Worpswede is northern Germany's best-known artists' village, set in the Teufelsmoor moorland northeast of Bremen. Painters, sculptors and architects have settled here since 1889, and today you can wander past galleries, museums and cafés on the Bergstraße, visit the homes of Heinrich Vogeler and Paula Modersohn-Becker and walk through the landscape that inspired them. It is an easy day trip from Bremen for art lovers and walkers alike.

Where it is and how to get there

Worpswede lies in the district of Osterholz in Lower Saxony, on the Hamme river. From Bremen, bus line 670 runs to Worpswede (stops Hemberg and Insel). On weekends from May to October the Moorexpress train links Bremen and Stade with a stop in the village. By car, take the A27 to the Bremen-Industriehäfen/Worpswede exit. A Deutschlandticket typically covers regional buses in Lower Saxony, but confirm for your line. We found no reliable parking information.

The artists' colony

The colony was founded in 1889 by painters including Fritz Mackensen and Otto Modersohn, joined later by Heinrich Vogeler and Paula Modersohn-Becker. Vogeler bought the Barkenhoff in 1895, and it became the center of the movement. The village has about 9,200 residents and was first mentioned in 1218. In 2026 the program "Impuls Paula" marks the 150th birthday of Paula Modersohn-Becker and runs from February 7 to November 1, 2026.

What to see

• Four main museums: Barkenhoff, Große Kunstschau, Haus im Schluh and Worpswede Kunsthalle.
• Museum am Modersohn-Haus: devoted to the painter Otto Modersohn.
• Niedersachsenstein: an 18-meter brick monument by Bernhard Hoetger (1922) on the Weyerberg hill.
• Bergstraße: the main street, lined with villas, galleries and cafés.
• Zionskirche and cemetery: the church dates from 1757 to 1759, and Paula Modersohn-Becker is buried in its cemetery.

Tickets and opening hours (as of October 2026)

The official museum website names the four museums but not prices. According to directories, the Kunsthalle costs 7 EUR (5 EUR reduced) with free entry for visitors under 18, and a four-museum pass costs 25 EUR (15 EUR reduced). Opening hours vary: many museums are reported to open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., while the Museum am Modersohn-Haus is listed at 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Confirm times on worpswede-museen.de before you go. The tourist office at Bergstraße 13 lists Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from April to October, according to one directory. The sources do not mention English guided tours.

Planning tips

Allow half a day to a full day. A stroll along the Bergstraße takes one to two hours, and each museum adds another hour or two. Spring and autumn are especially pleasant on the Weyerberg and across the moor. Cafés and restaurants cluster along the main street. Check ahead for wheelchair access and dog rules.