10 reasons to visit Bonn
There are certainly bigger metropolises on the Rhine than Bonn. However, not many cities can claim decades of being the German capital. And the birth of a musical genius: Beethoven lived in Bonn for 22 years.
Beethoven Monument in Münsterplatz
What would Bonn be without Beethoven? The city is proud of its famous son and built his monument in Münsterplatz in 1845. Not far from there is the house where he was born, which is now a museum.
Old Townhall on the Market Square
Behind this fancy rococo façade, Bonn´s mayor receives his guests. The Golden Book of the City, situated in the old town hall, has been imprinted with many famous signatures over the years. From 1949 to 1990 – while Germany was divided – Bonn was the provisional capital of the German Republic.
Plenary Chamber in the Old Waterworks
The old waterworks on the Rhine is an authentic place to reflect on Bonn's time as national capital. The German Bundestag sat here for six years until it was moved to Berlin in 1992. For those interested in history, tours to the old plenary chamber are available.
House of History
With more than 850.000 visitors annually, it is one of the most visited museums in Germany. The permanent exhibition allows one to experience history since 1945. More than 6000 objects and documents can be admired here. An eye-catcher is Konrad Adenauer´s work car. The first German chancellor had a Mercedes 300.
Beer Garden by the Old Customs House
Where once the customs house collected its dues from seafarers, one can now enjoy a drink in the beer garden. Kölsch, a beer from Cologne, is traditionally served. Except people from Bonn call it "Bönnsch". Included in the experience is a great view of the river Rhine, the Siebengebirge, and the Post Tower. At 162,5 meters, the latter is the tallest building in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Deutsche Welle
Next to the Post Tower, Deutsche Welle has its headquarters. Employees from more than 60 nations produce multimedia content in 30 different languages daily. Those who are interested can look behind the scenes after registering for a tour.
Cherry Blossoms in the Old Town
This extraordinary natural spectacle takes place annually in the spring. Tourists from all over the world admire the pink sea of blossoms the old town of Bonn turns into. Especially beautiful at that time of the year is Heerstraße, widely regarded as one of the most stunning tree-lined streets. The cherry trees were originally planted in the 1980s to bring some color into the old town.
Poppelsdorf Castle
The Prince-Electors of Cologne once resided in this castle. Today Bonn university's scientific collection is housed here. The neighboring Botanical Garden counts as one of the oldest and most varied in the world. An inspiration for anyone with a green thumb, admirers of classical music also shouldn't miss out on the castle concerts that are held every summer.
The Drachenfels in the Siebengebirge
The hill known as "Dragon´s Rock“ is one of the most visited recreation destinations in the Rhineland. Those who are ambitious hike up. The others just take the cable car. The reward at the top is a breathtaking view of the Rhine, with the city of Bonn in the distance.
Rhine in Flames
Every first weekend in May the city transforms into an enchanted world full of light and color. In addition to illuminated castles and ships there are fireworks accompanied by music. These create a festive atmosphere. After the performance, people head to the Rheinaue to enjoy the various music stages.