City of Beethoven, university town, seat of the Federal Government and Parliament for five decades, German UN City: 2000 years of eventful history hide behind Bonn´s many faces. The Romans set foot on its soil in the second decade BC, and Bonn emerges from the dark of prehistoric ages. The settlement develops from a Roman camp into a “villa basilica”, growing around the venerable Minster, and subsequently into a fortified town by archiepiscopal grace, residence of the Princes Elector of Cologne and romantic university town of the 19th century. The 20ieth century holds destruction in World War II, the vote for Bonn as the Federal Capital, the transfer of Parliament and parts of Government to Berlin, and Bonn´s new role as the German UN City.

The cityscape reflects many historical aspects: Roman traces as well as the marks of the era of the electors, the high-rise former office building of Parliament (nicknamed Langer Eugen/Tall Eugene after the first name of a former President of Parliament) testifies to the period as Federal Capital, and the “Post Tower” symbolizes the new Bonn. Bonn ranks among the cities along the Rhine with a rich tradition. It has vigorously set about shaping its future. It is worth reading its chronicles, following its history which includes both tragic fate and shining splendour. Its citizens accepted both as time brought them and held on to a statement made in praise of their town in the 16th century: “Bonna solum felix” – Bonn, you fortunate soil.

In 1900, Bonn was the fourth wealthiest town in Prussia but suffered considerable impoverishment after World War I. Like everywhere else in Germany, the Nazi Reich led to the persecution and assassination of Jewish citizens, and eventually to the destruction of one third of the city. Nevertheless the city elders did not hesitate to give a positive response when asked on July 5, 1948, if they could accommodate in Bonn the preparatory Constitutional Convention. The inaugural meeting of the Parliamentary Council was held in the Museum König, a museum of natural history, on September 1. The discussions took place in the restored teacher-training college. On November 3, 1949, the new Parliament confirmed the vote of the Parliamentary Council to make Bonn the temporary Federal Capital. For five decades the city proved to be an excellent host to the Government and Parliament of a country which in that period of time developed into one of the leading economic powers of the world. The Unification Treaty of 1990, however, made Berlin the Federal Capital. The Bundestag decided in a narrow vote on June 20, 1991, to move to Berlin. Parliament and parts of the Government took up their activities in Berlin in 1999. In accordance with the Bonn-Berlin Act of 1994, Bonn continues to be the second political center of the Federal Republic of Germany. Six of the fifteen ministries have remained here. The Federal President and the Federal Chancellor retain their second seats in Bonn.

Around the turn of the millennium Bonn had achieved great progress in its structural change. More than 20 federal institutions, among them the Federal Anti-Trust Office and the Federal Audit Office, moved to Bonn. In addition, numerous national and international organizations established themselves here. In 1996 Bonn became the German UN City with by now (2010) 19 agencies of the United Nations. Bonn has made a name for itself as a venue of international conferences, among them several world climate summits. The World Conference Center Bonn with the former Plenary Hall of Parliament as its core provides an ideal setting. Due the Compensation Agreement with its 1.4 billion EUR budget, Bonn was able until 2004 to further reinforce its strengths. The major part of the money was invested in science, creating the unique CAESAR research centre. Bonn´s economy booms, and many new jobs are created, above all in information and communication technology. Large enterprises have their headquarters here, like Deutsche Telekom and Deutsche Post DHL, whose “Post Tower” has become the new landmark of the city. The “Museum Mile” has turned into a prime attraction with over two million visitors a year. The International Beethoven Festival has been establishing itself in the festival scenery. Bonn scores top places in rankings of all kinds: in real estate, as a location of industry, in corporate results – and not least in the satisfaction of its citizens who value the high quality of life, the excellent infrastructure and the geographic situation on the romantic Rhine. A river valley like in a poem: between Rheingau and Siebengebirge you can see whatever the “Romantic Rhine” proposes: impressive fortresses, high rocks, steep vineyards and little villages like from a picture book. Since the end of the 18th century, English travellers, painters and poets have been discovering the beauty of the River Rhine. People were fascinated by the medieval mood in the churches and collected myths and legends from the Rhine. Above all Clemens von Brentano is worth mentioning here as the creator of the “Romantic Rhine”. His Loreley ballad, which was transferred into a poem later on by Heinrich Heine from Düsseldorf, is a synonym of that time still today. Bonn looks into the future with optimism.

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