The Roland is the most distinctive figure in the Marktplatz — a stone knight standing over ten metres tall, sword raised, shield emblazoned with an eagle. He has stood on this spot since 1404, replacing earlier wooden versions, and has become the emblem of the city. Roland statues in North Germany traditionally marked market rights and civic freedoms; Bremen's is the largest surviving example and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside the Rathaus in 2004.
The statue is best seen at dusk or in early morning light when the crowds thin. Look at the base for the reliefs depicting Bremen's rights and privileges. The local saying holds that as long as the Roland stands, Bremen will remain free — an identity the city has defended fiercely since the Hanseatic era.