Bonn

Bonn is the former administrative seat of West Germany and continues to host important events related to national and international politics, despite having been replaced by Berlin as unified Germany’s capital. The city was originally a college town and continues to maintain a vibrant youth culture. Visitors can experience that at Bonn’s many cafes and beer gardens.

Tour the University of Bonn, which is an important educational institution in the country. The college has a number of famous alumni, including Pope Benedict XVI and Friedrich Nietzsche.

Bonn is perhaps most well-known as the birthplace of the renowned composer, Ludwig van Beethoven, who was born in Beethoven-Haus. The house is now a museum where visitors can see some of the composer’s possessions, including a number of his writings and musical instruments.

The city contains several other museums, such as the Kunstmuseum Bonn, which displays one of the largest art collections in the area. Learn about German history at the Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.

Wander through the city’s southern Südstadt district, where you will see 19th-century buildings. Explore the 17th-century church, Kreuzbergkirche, which showcases Baroque architecture. The Das Bonner Münster basilica, located in downtown Bonn, is another example of the city’s diverse architecture.

Try the area’s unique red wine known as “Dragon’s Blood,” which is produced in the region’s mountains. You will find the wine in a number of pubs and cafes throughout the city. Bonn has a large performing arts schedule, carrying on its musical history. Opera houses put on ballets and operas throughout the summer, while the city’s orchestra performs a number of concerts, beginning in September. Head to the city’s smaller theaters for comedy shows and jazz gigs. If you are in the area in summer, you might catch Beethovenfest Bonn.

The city is located on the Rhine River, south of Cologne. Several picturesque train routes from the city travel to other major cities past the Siebengebirge Mountains. Bonn’s location makes it a practical area for day trips to Cologne, Düsseldorf and other areas in the Rhine region.