The Federal City of Bonn is a city with almost 320,000 inhabitants on both banks of the Rhine in North Rhine-Westphalia. Bonn is one of the oldest cities in Germany, going back to Germanic and Roman settlements. From 1597 to 1794 it was the residence of the electors of Cologne. In 1770, Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn. During the 19th Century the University of Bonn became one of the most important German universities. Due to the division of Germany after the Second World War, Bonn became the capital in 1949 to 1990 and served as seat of government of the Federal Republic of Germany until 1999.
Even after the move of the Parliament and parts of the federal government to Berlin, the President and the Chancellor continue to have a second office in Bonn. 16 organizations of the United Nations (UN) and two-DAX (German “blue chip”) companies are also based in Bonn.
Bonn’s biggest son and his traces – Ludwig van Beethoven
His house of birth has been the landmark of Bonn for ages, his monument dominates the Muensterplatz, while a concert hall and an orchestra are named after him. Already at the age of twelve he composed sonatas, which have been the basis of every musical education ever since: Ludwig van Beethoven is the city’s biggest son, a city which is intensely connected with this Titan of musical art.
Discovered by English travellers – the Rhine Valley
A river valley like in a poem: between Rheingau and Siebengebirge you can see everything the “Romantic Rhine” has to offer: impressive fortresses, high rocks, steep vineyards and little villages like from a picture book. Since the end of the 18th century, English travellers, painters and poets have been discovering the beauty of the River Rhine. People were fascinated by the medieval mood in the churches and collected myths and legends from the Rhine. Above all Clemens von Brentano is worth mentioning here as the creator of the “Romantic Rhine”. His Loreley ballad, which was adapted into a poem later by Heinrich Heine from Düsseldorf, is a synonym of that time still today.
Nature and culture at the Siebengebirge – the perfect combination
The densely wooded Siebengebirge is dominated by the legendary Drachenfels mountain, even though the Drachenfels does not form the top of the total of 40 hills with its height of just 321 metres. Nonetheless, tourists are always attracted to its romantic ruin of a fortress and the Castle Drachenburg, which is a jewel of the High Romanticism definitely worth seeing. The Petersberg Mountain, which is next to the Drachenfels Mountain, is crowned by the imposing guest house of the Federal Government, which does not only accommodate state guests, but also serves as a first-class hotel for travellers.
A must-see – the Museum Mile
The Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany) and the Kunstmuseum Bonn (Art Museum Bonn) are located between the city centres of Bonn and Godesberg. As an impressive architectural ensemble, they form the core of the Museum Mile (Museumsmeile). They are supplemented by the Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (House of the History of the Federal Republic of Germany), the Museum Alexander Koenig and the Deutsches Museum Bonn (German Museum Bonn).
Centre for International Cooperation
The city of Bonn has an international competence due to its capital heritage: thanks to the optimal infrastructure, Bonn has developed into a centre for international cooperation. Numerous UN organisations and non-governmental organisations have settled here in the cosmopolitan city at the Rhine. Bonn’s economy and science is also associated with the rest of the world.
For more information on sights, culture and events in Bonn please refer to the website of Tourismus & congress GmbH Bonn/Rhein-Sieg/Ahrweiler
(Sources: Tourismus & congress GmbHBonn/Rhein-Sieg/Ahrweiler)