Bonn
Bonn was the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany until October 3, 1990) from its inception in 1949 until in a very close and contested battle the Bundestag voted in the summer of 1991 to move the capital to Berlin. Many Germans thought Bonn unworthy of capital status, as it was a small university city on the Rhein, twenty minutes from the bustling metropolis of Cologne, sleepy by comparison. Bonn, the birthplace of Beethoven, was a favorite of the first chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, as he was born in a village to the south of Bonn along the Rhein. It represented a more "western" Germany to Adenauer, and the "Bonn Republic" developed stability and prosperity in the decades after WWII. After the decision to move the capital Bonners were angry, arguing that a move would be costly and would give up the stability Bonn had represented. Thursday protests started (leading to a community action movement that continues to work to this day for local issues -- Burger Bund Bonn), and one Bakery even changed the name of a jelly filled pastry from its traditional "Berliner" to "Bonner" in protest. But they've handled the transition well, finding new uses for government buildings, and even hosting such things as the conference to work on determining the future of Afghanistan in late November 2001. In my own opinion, Bonn is one of my favorite cities in Germany. I lived there for over half a year while doing dissertation work, riding my bike along the Rhein to Cologne in the north, or Bad Godesberg and Remagen to the south, and think Bonn's pedestrian zone in the city center is beautiful, and reflects the high quality of life in urban Germany. Enjoy the photos!
Market -- day
and night
Beethoven -- Commemorating the birth town of the famous
musician Beethoven
Bakeries -- one of the best things about Germany is its
bakeries!
Innenstadt I -- Germany's town centers are usually hubs of
activity with large pedestrian zones; Bonn's is beautiful
Innenstadt II -- more from the pedestrian city center
Shops -- newspapers, flowers -- typical German shops
Meat -- Wurst, chicken, more typical shops in the Innenstadt
Old wall -- more from the Innenstadt, including a piece of the
old city wall
Church -- right on the square with Beethoven is the main church in
the Innenstadt
University -- the grounds of the famous Bonn university
Studentenheim -- student dorms in Bonn
Rhein I -- a walk along the Rhein
Rhein II -- the paths along the Rhein
Adenauer -- a statue of Konrad Adenauer, first Chancellor of
post-WWII West Germany
Bundestag -- the old Bundestag building
Bundesrat -- the old Bundesrat building and Chancellory -- the
new ones are in Berlin
Altes Rathaus -- by day and night
Trains -- the way to see Europe