Top Rated Attractions in Bonn

The famous Kreuzbergkirche is located on Stationsweg in Poppelsdorf. A place of pilgrimage stood on the site before the Elector Ferdinand allowed the Baroque church to be built there in 1627. The entry-way was first added under Elector Clemens August. The well known builder Balthasar Neumann designed the splendid stone steps which lead to the altar. The church was renovated for around two million Marks in the middle of the nineties, and the partly lost original decoration from 1750 was restored.

The perfect example of positive reuse of industrial space, the converted breadfactoy in Bonn or Kulturzentrum Brotfabrik is now a lively cultural center. The center features a theater, cinema, a cultural institute for education as well as children's workshops and a cafe. With a number of interactive programs through the year, as well as the exhibitions, performances, film screenings, dance classes and other activities; the Brotfabrik has grown into one of the most accessible and vibrant cultural spaces in the city.

Bonn's green oasis is definitely the Rheinauenpark, where the Federal Garden Show of 1979 was held. It is almost as large as the city-centre. When the weather is nice, go for long walks (the footpath is 45km long), have a picnic on one of the lawns or a barbecue in one of the designated areas. In summer, you can go rowing, or play with a remote controlled boat on the 15-hectare Auen lake. There is also an adventure play area for the kids and beer gardens for adults. In summer, regular events are organised here, such as Rheinkultur, Rhein in Flames, Beer Festival and the big Flohmarkt (which is held on the third Sunday of each month).

A beautiful representation of German Romanesque architecture, the Maria Laach Abbey is a Benedictine abbey that was established in the year 1093. Idyllically located on the shores of the picturesque Laacher Lake and due to the regular renovation and maintenance efforts, it continues to be in excellent condition. Its serene lakeside setting coupled with the various towers and turrets of the Abbey, give it a very fairy-tale fortress appeal. The structure has been embellished with several embellishments over the years such as 16th-century murals, mosaics dating back to 1910 and stained glass windows from the 1950s.

Botanische Garten der Universität Bonn is an oasis of peace and quiet in the middle of the city. The original gardens were re-landscaped in 1819 and still bear the typical English elements that were the flavor of the day in the early 19th Century. Visitors can admire a host of exotic plants ranging from Amazonian water lilies to orchids from the tropical rain forests. The giant North American trees are particularly striking.

The Haus der Geschichte (History House) of the Federal Republic of Germany is a must for all. Post 1945 German history is portrayed here in an interesting manner -with text captions, historical objects and photos illustrating historical events. The information here is not restricted to politics, the visitor also learns interesting facts about the history of society, art, culture as well as the economic situations. Technical aids such as screens, listening posts and info-drawers make the visit a relaxing journey through Germany's recent history. You can sit on one of the original seats from the plenary chamber to observe parliamentary debates from the fifties and sixties.