The sound of Beethoven is in the air as this charming German city celebrates its most famous son with a month-long classical music festival, says Nick Boulos.
There's a buzz in the air in Bonn. Next month sees this elegant German city celebrate Ludwig van Beethoven, who was born in Bonn in The month-long Beethovenfest beethovenfest. Among the 68 events planned are concerts, films and lectures held across the city in venues as varied as castles and tram depots. The highlight this year is a performance of Fidelio, the composer's only opera. Cologne-Bonn airport is 16km north-east of Bonn.
The main airline is Germanwings ; germanwings. It is also served by easyJet ; easyjet. The Airport Express swb-busundbahn. Bonn sits on the banks of the Rhine in western Germany, 30km south-east of Cologne. Overlooked somewhat by its big neighbour, Bonn hasn't always been in the shadows.
For more than 40 years, from , it was West Germany's federal capital. But with reunification came a shift in power and the Bundestag national parliament was transferred to Berlin in The city centre — compact, leafy, largely pedestrianised and where you'll spend the majority of your time — is concentrated on the right bank. Opposite is the residential neighbourhood of Beuel. The tourist office 3 00 49 77 ; bonn-region.
Queen Victoria checked into the Stern Hotel 4 00 49 ; sternhotel. She loved it so much she presented the property with an oversized portrait of herself. It's since been destroyed but the iconic room hotel remains a popular choice in the heart of the city. Today, it has cosy rooms, a spa and terrace overlooking the Rhine. The room Beethoven Hotel 6 00 49 ; beethoven-hotel. Start on Kaiserplatz 7 staring down Poppelsdorfer Allee — a one-kilometre stretch lined with chestnut trees — towards the Baroque Poppelsdorf Palace 8 , which was once the holiday home of Archbishop Joseph Clemens.
