Parking near Wätjens Park

Watjens Park is also known as Watjens Landgut, or Watjens Garten. It surrounds Watjens Castle and its former agricultural structures. This historic park is located in Bremen's Blumenthal and Vegesack districts. It has been protected by the Bremen Monument Protection (BMP) since 2007.

Situated on the southwestern edge of the Osterholzer Geest, Watjens Park spans both sides of the border between Blumenthal and Vegesack, south of Landrat-Christians-Strasse. The Weser River and marshy land to the south have been filled in for commercial use.

Diedrich Heinrich Watjen acquired four farms in 1830. Kimm from Vegesack helped him build a charming country home in the classical style. Isaak altmann designed the surrounding park in English landscape garden style. Christian Heinrich Watjen, the son of Diedrich Heinrich Watjen who died in 1858 expanded and developed the estate. In 1864, the Bremen architect Heinrich Muller designed a castle-like house, called Watjens Schloss. It was built in the English Tudor Style. Watjen grew the park to about 50 hectares and continued Altmann's landscape style, adding various features like an artificial ruin and seating grottos. He also added two bark huts and a pond.

Watjens Park, not only is a beautiful estate, but it's also a working agricultural enterprise that includes arable farming, forest management, and gardens of fruits, vegetables and flowers. The park was also home to chickens, cows and horses. For these purposes, a number of farm buildings were built, including homes for the managers, gardeners and workers. The estate was equipped with its own water system, including two water towers and steam-powered pumps. Villa Magdalena's tower, situated in the southeast corner, was also used as an observation tower. The estate was surrounded by wrought iron fences and gates at the main entrances of the three houses.

Diedrich Heinrich Jr. Watjen commissioned the construction in 1888 of a neoclassical temple to honor his father and grandfather. Around 1900, some parts of the park, which were privately owned, were made available to the public, but with restrictions.

The Watjens faced financial problems and were forced to abandon their estate. Bremer Vulkan (BWK) and Bremer Wollkammerei, two industrial companies adjacent to the estate, saw it as a potential expansion area. In 1916, Vulkan purchased the eastern part of the park, which included the castle, agricultural buildings and the Swiss House. BWK acquired the western portion, which included the Swiss House. The park was closed to the public after the division. Vulkan slowly incorporated part of the land in its industrial operations. This included using soil from Geest to fill the marshland, and creating additional space for the nearby shipyard. Castles and agricultural buildings became company housing. Several structures, such as Villa Magdalena were demolished in order to build a new administration building. The park was left in disrepair.

BWK used the Swiss House to provide a luxurious residence for its directors. In 1987, despite being in good condition,