Bonn Facts

Located on the Rhine, Bonn was once the capital of West Germany, and remains an important player in the country's political scene. Its most famous resident was Ludwig van Beethoven, but Bonn is highly regarded today for its high-quality universities, vibrant culture and stunning architecture.

City Center

Bonn's city center is characterized by the pedestrian district, with its many shops in the Sternstraße. There is also a weekly Marktplatz, the Münsterbasilika and the large University. Numerous pubs, breweries and restaurants also make the city center a popular place. The Beethovendenkmal, Lennéhaus and Abgeordneten-Hochhaus are rich with historical importance and are popular stops among visitors....

...was a sleepy little university town, basking in its 2,000 years of history. Then suddenly it was shaken out of this quiet life and made capital of the Federal Republic of Germany. But in 1991, after the reunification of Germany, Berlin again became the official capital.

From the 13th century through the 18th century, Bonn was the capital of the prince-electors of Cologne, who had the right to participate in the election of the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. The city is also proud of its intellectual and musical history -- Beethoven was born here; composer Robert Schumann and his wife, pianist Clara Schumann, lived here; and Karl Marx and Heinrich Heine studied in Bonn's university.

Bonn...