Bonn

Bonn is a historic city located in western Germany, along the banks of the Rhine River.

Bonn Wikipedia

Bonn's beginning dates between 13 - 9 BC when the Romans began building roads, bridges, and fortresses at a location known as "Bonna."

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Bonn was ruled by a succession of different rulers, including the Franks, the Holy Roman Empire, and the French.

Bonn is probably best known as Beethoven's birth place despite the composer'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 and never came back to Bonn.

In the 19th century, Bonn became a major center for the arts and sciences. The University of Bonn was founded in 1818 and attracted some of the leading scholars of the day.

Composer Robert Schumann and his wife, pianist Clara Schumann, lived in Bonn; and Karl Marx and Heinrich Heine studied in Bonn's university.

Bonn served as the provisional capital of West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany) from 1949 until the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990. During this period, it was home to many government institutions, including the Bundestag (Federal Parliament) and the Chancellor's Office. After the reunification of Germany, Berlin again became the official capital.

Bonn has excellent tap water, due to the fact that when the Romans conquered, they had the water piped in from the Eifel mountains about 50 miles away.

The city boasts a mix of historic and modern architecture. The Altstadt (Old Town) features charming, well-preserved buildings, including the Bonn Minster (Bonn Münster), which dates back to the 11th century. Nearby, you'll find the Rococo-style Electoral Palace (Kurfürstliches Schloss).