Bonn is an attractive city but two near coincidences of history account for its fame and probably for most of its visitors.
The first is that Beethoven was born in the city; the second that the city served as the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany [West Germany] from its postwar foundation to German reunification towards the end of the 20th century. The later fact probably accounts for the profusion of top class museums in what is, after all, a small town. The first means that it has the Beethoven Geburtshaus, still one of the most visited musical history buildings in Europe.
Bonn is a good centre for wider trips as it lies within easy distance of Koln [Cologne] and is the bottom end of the fabulous Rhine Gorge with steamers doing trips every day.
To recommend also is the Haus der Geschichte (House of History), where you can learn about the beginning of the German republic. Nearby the Bundeskunsthalle is situated, which offers very good exhibitions. [edit text][editors]
