How did the “Bonn Republic” come about?
Everyone knows that Bonn was once the capital. But how did it happen? Why this small, tranquil town on the Rhine and not the pulsating metropolis of Berlin?
The Basic Law is drawn up in Bonn:
After the end of World War II, Germany's cities lay in ruins. In Bonn, which got off comparatively lightly, attempts are being made cautiously to breathe new life into the ideologically and structurally destroyed country with a modern constitution and freely elected representatives.
Bonn becomes the seat of government:
But not only the constitution for post-war Germany was born in Bonn. Bonn also receives the provisional seat of government. The "Bonn Republic" is born.
The tour starts at the Museum Koenig and leads along the Adenauerallee, past the Federal Press Office to today's United Nations Square. The final stop is the Bundesbüdchen with a view of the high-rise buildings "Langer Eugen" and the Post Tower, which are characteristic of Bonn.
Meeting Point
Museum Alexander Koenig
Museum Alexander Koenig, 53113 Bonn, Germany
Proceed to the entrance of the Museum Koenig.
What's included:
- Exclusive for you and your group
- Personal tour by local guide
What to expect:
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Museum Koenig
Adenauerallee 160, Bonn, 53113, North Rhine-Westphalia
From the foyer of the museum we take a look into the former "Light Hall", which was converted in 1948 for the opening ceremony of the Parliamentary Council. For this purpose, all animal exhibits had to be removed from the hall, but the giraffe turned out to be too big for the exit.
15 minutes
Villa Hammerschmidt
Adenauerallee 135, Bonn, 53113, North Rhine-Westphalia
In the distance you can see the residence of the first Federal President, Theodor Heuss. The aesthetic villa from the 19th century served as the first official residence of the Federal President until reunification. Since then, after Bellevue Palace in Berlin, it has continued to be an official second home.
5 minutes
Palais Schaumburg
Adenauerallee 139, 53113 Bonn, Germany
Hidden behind fences and building barriers is Palais Schaumburg, another Wilhelminian villa, Konrad Adenauer's first chancellery. Since this address has been renovated since 2013, pictures of the building and its history are shown to compensate.
8 minutes
Bundeskanzlerplatz
Adenauerallee 216, 53113 Bonn, Germany
The larger-than-life head of Konrad Adenauer on Bundeskanzlerplatz won an artist competition in the 1980s because of its innovative design. As a photo motif, it invites you to stand next to the statesman "at eye level".
10 minutes
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
Dahlmannstraße 4, 53113 Bonn, Germany
The building of today's ministry was originally built as a new chancellery for Helmut Schmidt. The spacious grounds are presented in the style of the 1970s with a modern sculpture in its inner courtyard.
5 minutes
Platz der Vereinten Nationen
Bonn, 53113, North Rhine-Westphalia
In the architectural heart of the Bonn Republic is the Bundeshaus, a building complex that contained the former Bundesrat and Bundestag. With the construction of the new plenary hall and the World Conference Center, this campus changed into an international workplace.
15 minutes
Bundesbudchen
Heusallle, , Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia
The former kiosk of Konrad Adenauer, Helmut Kohl, Gerhard Schröder and Joschka Fischer is structurally unchanged and nevertheless in a new location. After the Büdchen had to give way to the Marriott Hotel and be transferred "in one piece" to a Bornheimer forwarding agency, it was allowed to return to the site in its entirety in 2020. The owner won a legal dispute with the city of Bonn and can therefore continue to offer his range of newspapers, sausages and coffee. A fitting final stop for the tour.
10 minutes
