Bonn is enjoyable
The federal city of Bonn is the former capital of Federal Republic of Germany (West German). Situated on the river Rhine, not far from Cologne, the city is today a very popular place for large-scale conferences and exhibitions. Bonn is also known for its renowned Rheinische Friedrich Wilhelm University and as the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven.
Attractions and things to do
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Couple of beautiful churches, such as the basilica Das Bonner Münster, or the baroque Kreuzbergkirche.
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Beethoven-Haus.
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Beethovenfest, held mainly in September.
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An excursion to Mountain Drachenfels (in Siebengebirge hills, 321 m/1053 ft) with castle ruins and magnificent view, the same one Lord Byron once celebrated in Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. A legend says that a dragon lived in a cave there; it was finally killed by the Nibelungenlied hero Siegfried. The mountain is accessible by rack railway from Königswinter, a small town on the other side of the river.
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Rhine cruses.
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Rheinische Landesmuseum, where the famous scull of 'Neanderthaler” is displayed.
Hotels
Bonn has an extensive, top-quality hotel infrastructure which, together with tourist apartments, youth hostels, and vacation flat rentals provides comfortably accommodation for every taste and every budget.
Getting here and getting around
By air: Cologne-Bonn (Köln-Bonn) airport (CGN). From there: an airport bus or train to the centre.
By train: connections from Hamburg and beyond. The main station is close to the bus terminal and the main shopping centre.
By bus/car: Buses from – among other cities – Berlin and Tallinn. Motorway A3 Cologne - Frankfurt. Bonn has a ring road/beltway which facilitates fast access to the centre.
The public transport in the city of Bonn consists of very extensive network of bus lines and several lines of underground and surface light railway. Since the historical area is compact, it can be easy explored on foot.
Dining out
Numerous pubs and restaurants serve typical local dishes, as well as specialties of the international cuisine. Beer gardens, bistros and café - especially those on the river side or in the “Alter Zoll” - provide a great way to soak in the friendly Rhenish atmosphere. And do not leave Bonn without tasting the local beer brewed in Cologne – Kölsch.
History
The first settlement, a Roman camp, developed soon into a “villa basilica” around the first Christian cathedral ("Münster"). Bonn belonged to the electors and archbishops of Cologne, who in 1601 made it to their state capital. In 1786, the last elector, Max Franz of the Habsburgs founded the forerunner of today's university. 1794, Bonn and the left bank of the Rhine became a part of France. After the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Bonn and the entire Rhineland were incorporated into the Kingdom of Prussia, and Bonn became its richest city. In 1818, the renowned Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelm University was founded. After the WWII, Bonn was chosen to be at first a provisional, then actual capital of the Federal Republic of Germany. It took almost 10 years to move all capital institutions back to Berlin after the unification in 1991.
Climate & weather
Mild. Seasonal and day-to-day changes, the weather is comparable to that of the UK and north of France. The hottest month is July, the coldest – February. Snow is seldom. Best time to travel is spring and autumn.
Time zone: UTC (GMT)+1. Daytime saving time (DST) is observed.
Currency: Euro (EUR, €).
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