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Germany
Travel Guide
Bonn was the former capital of the
Federal Republic of Germany (previously, West Germany) and lies on the
river Rhine some 20 km south of Cologne. The city remains a popular
choice for large-scale exhibitions and conferences. Bonn is best known
culturally as the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven. Population 315,000.
 
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Bonn's
beginning dates to between 13 - 9 BC when Romans began building roads,
bridges, and fortresses at a location known as "Bonna". One
well documented event was the maryrdom of two Thebaean legionaries. The
Thebaean Legion was an all Christian legion, which refused to worship the
emperor as a god. As punishment the Thebaean Legion's commander,
Mauritius was executed in St. Moritz as were many other Thebaean
legionaries including Cassius and Florentius, Bonn's patron saints, who
were martyred at the location of the present-day Münster basilica.
After
the Romans left the town had a very tumultuous history. Bonn has been
destroyed and pummeled on so many occasions that it nearly became a
pastime. Norman invaders were the first to burn the town to the ground in
881 and again in 892. In 1198 King Philip of Swabia and Duke Heinrich von
Brabant layed siege to Bonn. In 1244 Konrad von Hochstaden, archbishop of
Cologne ordered Bonn to be fortified. The reasons for fortrification may
have been for the Archbishop's protection as he had apparently begun
fighting with Cologne's leaders and often resided in Bonn after the
dispute. In 1288 under Sigfried II von Westerburg the archbishopric was
transferred from Cologne to Bonn, which has since been transfered back to
Cologne.
In
1582 Archbishop Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg converted to Calvinism and
refused to give up his position as elector. In February of 1583 Waldburg
married and was in April of the same year excommunicated by Pope Gregory
XIII. After the Truschessian War Gebhard fled to Strassbourg, but not
before Bonn felt the rapture of Bavarian troops, who blew up the
Godesberg (the archbishop's residence) with 1,500 pounds of gun powder.
While the town survived the Thirty Years war Bonn was completely
destroyed in 1689 as a result of the War of the Grand Alliance.
In
December 1770 Bonn's most famous son, Ludwig van Beethoven, was born on
Bonngasse. Bonn is probably best known as Beethoven's birth place and
this fact is well advertised by the city despite Beethoven's vehement
disgust towards his hometown. Beethoven spent some time in Vienna hoping
to study with Mozart, but after his mother's death he was forced to
return to Bonn for five years to raise his two younger brothers since his
alcoholic father was unable to. In 1792 Beethoven returned to Vienna
never to have returned to Bonn.
Local
Attractions:
- Das
Bonner Münster, Gerhard-von-Are Straße 5 +49 (0)228 / 98 588
- 0 (pfarrbuero@bonner-muenster.de). Hours: Church: 7:00 - 19:00. Cloister: 9:00 -
17:00. A beautiful basilica, in Bonn's city center. Only Bonn
Information or the Bonner Münster Foundation are permitted to
arrange guided tours to the basilica. The "Bonn
Information" organization can arrange for non-German tours.
- Kreuzbergkirche,
Stationsweg 21 (info@kreuzberg-bonn.de). In summer: 09:00 AM – 18:00 PM. In winter: 09:00 AM – 17:00 PM. Visit
of the Holy Staircase: 09:00 AM – 17:00 PM. The church is a
beautiful example of baroque architecture. Today, the church serves
as both a church and a German language and culture school, but is
probably best known for the "Heiliger Steige". The church
was erected in 1627/1628 on the orders of the archbishop to replace
an older chapel. In 1746 Elector Clemens August von Bavarian donated
the "Heiliger Steige", or holy staircase, which, according
to legend has pieces of the cross the crucified Jesus set into the
stone. Small brass crosses on the second, eleventh, and last steps
mark the spots where the pieces of the cross are supposed to be set.
- Deutsche Welle World Headquarters and Radio, Kurt-Schumacher-Straße 3 +49/(0)228/ 429-2538
(visitor.service@dw-world.de, fax: +49/(0)228/ 429-2040). Tours
leave Mon. - Fri. at: 10:00 & 14:00. Deutsche Welle (Also known
simply as DW) is Germany's international media outlet and is now
housed in what was supposed to be the German parliment's home. After
the German government decided to move the building was taken over by
DW to become its world headquarters and home to its radio
operations. Tours are conducted in German, however, tours can be
conducted in English, French, Spanish, or Portugese when requested
in advance. DW asks that anyone wishing to take a tour reserve at
least two months in advance and may require you to be with a group
of 6 - 20 persons, however, they may arrange an exception if
contacted. Tours last an average of two hours. Tours are free.
The former capital:
- Palais Schaumburg, Adenauerallee 139/141. Until 2001 the was used
to house the office of Germany's chancellor and the chancellor's
cabinet. Today, the building is used as a secondary headquarters for
the chancellor. edit
- Villa Hammerschmidt, Adenauerallee 135. Between 1951 - 1994 the Villa
Hammerschmidt served as the residence of the German President,
however, since the relocation of the German government to Berlin the
building serves as a secondary residence for the president.
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Museums
and Galleries:
- Beethoven-Haus, Bonngasse 18-26 (Take trams (62 or 66) or buses
to Bertha-von-Suttner-Platz / Beethoven-Haus), +49 228-98175-0
(info@beethoven-haus-bonn.de, fax: +49 228 98175-26). April 1 -
October 31: Mon. - Sat.: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sundays & holidays:
11 a.m. - 6 p.m. November 1 - March 31: Mon. - Sat.: 10 a.m. - 5
p.m. Sundays & holidays: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed New Year's Day,
Carnival-Thursday, the Monday preceding Ash Wednesday, Carnival-Tuesday,
Good Friday, Easter Sunday and from 24 to 26 December, New Year's
eve. The birthplace of the great composer is now a museum dedicated
to his life and work. The museum even has a lock of Beethoven's hair
on display. Somewhat ironically Bonn advertises their hometown son
despite Beethoven's vehment hatred for his hometown. With a
competent docent this museum is well worth the visit and is more
interesting than Mozart's Geburthaus in Salzburg.
- August
Macke Haus, Bornheimer Straße 96 (U-Bahn stop: Bonn
West), +49 (0)228 / 65 55 31 (buero@august-macke-haus.de, fax:
49 (0)228 / 69 15 50. Hours:
Tues - Fri. 2:30 - 6:00 pm. Sa, Sun, & holidays 11:00 am to 5:00
pm. August Macke a leading member of Der Blaue Reiter, a famous
expressionist group, lived in this house with his wife, Elizabeth,
for a few years and produced over 400 works in the top floor studio.
Admission (regular/reduced): Adults: €3.50 / €2.50, Children: €2.50/
€1.50.
- Haus
der Geschichte, Willy-Brandt-Allee 14 +49 (0)228 / 91 65-0
(post@hdg.de, fax: +49 (0)228 / 91 65-302),. Tue - Sun 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Closed on December 23,
24, and 31. The museum is open with limited hours during the
Christmas season. A interesting explanation of German history.
Exhibitions are presented in German only, but guidebooklets with
English translations are available for a couple Euros, and guided
tours for school groups conducted in english are available free of
charge when prebooked. Free admission for individuals. Tour groups
with a guide €35.
- Kunstmuseum
Bonn, Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 2 (Museumsmeile. U-Bahn stop: Heussallee. Bus 610 will also stop
at Heussallee) +49 (0)228 / 776260. Tues. – Sun.: 11am - 6 pm,
Wed.: 11am - 9 pm. Closed on Mondays; Februrary 23 and 27, December
24, 25, and 31. Admission: Adults: €3. Students, Children (over 6),
and Bonn-Card holders: €1.50. Family ticket: €6.
- Kunst-
und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland,
Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 4, +49 (0)228 / 9171-0.
- Deutsches
Museum Bonn, Ahrstraße 45 (U-Bahn stop:
Hochkreuz/Deutsches Museum Bonn) +49 (0)228 / 302-255
(info@deutsches-museum-bonn.de, fax: +49 (0)228 / 302-254). Tues. - Sun.: 10 - 18. Closed Mondays; Thursday
before Fat Tuesday; Fat Tuesday (Shrove Tuesday); Good Friday; May
1; December 24, 25, and 31.. Admission: Regular: €4, Children (6
years+): €2.50, Family ticket: €7.
- Zoologisches
Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160 +49
(0)228 / 9122 211 (info.zfmk@uni-bonn.de, fax: +49 (0)228 / 9122
212). Hours: Tue., Thurs. -
Sun.: 10:00 - 18. Wed.: 10.00 - 21. Closed most Mondays (except on
legal holidays); Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve.
Zoological museum. Admission: Regular: € 3, Discounter (Seniors,
students): €1.50.
- Aegyptisches Museum, Regina-Pacis-Weg 7 (University of Bonn. U-Bahn
stop: Universität / Markt) +49 (0)228 / 739710
(aegyptisches-museum@uni-bonn.de, fax: +49 (0)228 / 737360). Hours: Tues. - Sun.: Noon - 18. Closed Mondays
and holidays. The University of Bonn administered Egyptian Museum.
Admission: Adults: €3.50, Students and Children (7 years+): €2.50,
Family ticket (2 adults and 3 children): €9.
Festivals:
- Beethovenfest +49 /(0)228/ 2010 345 (info@beethovenfest.de,
fax: +49 /(0)228/ 2010 333). A month long music festival with
numerous concerts held in Bonn and aroung the Siebengebirge region.
Many international musicians are showcased during the festival.
- Rhein in Flammen
- Pützchens Markt
- R(h)einKultur, one of the biggest open-air festivals, entrance
free edit
Music & Theatre:
- Bonner
Kammerchor (info@bonner-kammerchor.de). An amateur chamber choir made up of roughly forty
members. The choir occasionally hosts free shows.
- Beethoven
Orchester Bonn, Wachsbleiche 1 +49 /(0)228/ 45 49 3-0
(info@beethoven-orchester.de, fax: +49 /(0)228/ 45 49 3-25)
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