Bremen Roland, Germany

Germany-32, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Received Postcards.

The Bremen Roland is a statue (Rathausplatz) of the city's protector, Roland, erected in 1404, which stands in the market square of Bremen, facing the cathedral. Charlemagne's knight Roland bears Durendart, the "sword of justice" and a shield decorated with the two-headed imperial eagle. Statues of Roland appear in numerous cities of the former Holy Roman Empire, as emblems of city liberties, Stadtrechte.

According to legend, Bremen will remain free and independent for as long as the Roland stands watching over the city. For this reason, it is alleged that a second Roland statue is kept hidden in the town hall's underground vaults, which can be quickly installed as a substitute, should the original fall.