Future
Bonn
The city is located on the Rhine River, about 15 miles (24 km) south of Cologne. From 1949 to 1991 it was the provisional capital of West Germany, and from 1991 to 1999 it continued as seat of the German federal government and Federal city of Germany.
The oldest settlement known by the (celtic) name of Bonn was a river crossing discovered by Roman legionaries in the 1st century BC. The settlement itself probably disappeared soon afterward, but its name was continued in Castra Bonnensia, a fortress built by the Romans in the 1st century AD. Castra Bonnensia survived the breakup of the Roman Empire as a civilian settlement, and in the 9th century it became the Frankish town of Bonnburg.
Bonn grew in importance from the 13th century, becoming the capital of the Electorate and Archbishopric of Cologne, which was then a sovereign state in its own right. This era ended in 1794, when the French Revolutionary forces occupied the city. In 1815 Bonn was awarded to the Kingdom of Prussia by the Congress of Vienna. There was little development until the second half of the 19th century, when the city became a fashionable residential town. It was severely damaged during World War II. Development was accelerated after 1949, when Bonn was chosen as the provisional capital of West Germany, and in 1969 it was amalgamated with the towns of Bad Godesberg and Beuel and several small parishes like Buschdorf, Ippendorf, Roettgen and Duisdorf.
Those responsible for economic development in the late 19th century did their utmost to keep large industries out to preserve the city's attractions as a residential town for the rich. As a result, Bonn developed only limited light industry. Typical products were laboratory equipment, switchgear, organs, and flags. By far the most important employer was the service industry, which included the many organizations associated with Bonn's function as a capital. Agricultural products are supplied mainly by the neighbouring villages. Best known products: Haribo and Verpoorten.
The Bundestag and the Bundesrat (legislative bodies), the Bundespräsident (head of state), and the Bundeskanzler (head of government) all were located in Bonn during its period as the capital, and it also accommodated a large number of foreign embassies, regional institutions, and local and regional courts. National and international travel facilities, provided mainly by the Federal Railways and by Konrad Adenauer Cologne-Bonn Airport, are well developed.
As Ludwig van Beethoven's birthplace, Bonn is particularly devoted to the promotion of the musical arts. It maintains a municipal orchestra and arranges numerous national and international concerts. The Beethovenhalle, a modern concert hall, is the centre of Bonn's musical life. The EMA-Aula is an second centre of musical highlights in the former capital city.
Apart from the spacious municipal theatre (drama, opera, operetta, musicals, and ballet), there are several private theatres. Other important institutions are the Rhine Provincial Museum (archaeology) and the Museum Alexander Koenig (zoology).
Prominent historic buildings are the cathedral, a Romanesque basilica (11th-13th century) surmounted by five towers, of which the central (315 feet [96 m] high) is a landmark in the Rhine River valley, and the old village churches of Muffendorf (10th century), Vilich (11th century), and Schwarz-Rheindorf (12th century). The former Electoral Palace (now the Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of Bonn [founded 1786]) and the Poppelsdorf Palace, with its botanical gardens, along with the city's beautiful avenues and parks are reminders of the electoral and archiepiscopal capital. Recreational areas include the forests of Venusberg, Kreuzberg, Kottenforst, and Ennert on the southern and western fringes of the city. Beyond the city the mountain country of the Westerwald and the Eifel are within easy reach.
Pop. (1992 est.) city, 296,244.
(Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica 2001)
As part of its decision on 20th June 1991 to
move Parliament and parts of the Government from Bonn to Berlin, the German
Parliament (Bundestag) decided upon compensation measures to counteract the
anticipated problems ensuing for Bonn and its region. In its report on 29th May
1992 the Government put emphasis on the concept of "Bonn as a research
region". This led to the passing of the Bill "Implementation of
Parliament's Decision of 20th June 1991 as regards the attainment of German
Unification" (Berlin/Bonn Act) on 10th May 1994.
Shortly before, on 14th January 1994, an advisory group headed by the then
Chancellor Dr. Helmut Kohl (CDU) had agreed upon compensation payments of 1.4
billion EUR for the region. A total of 3.2 billion EUR of this amount was
destined for the extension of "Bonn as a research region".
Informationszentrum der Vereinten
Nationen (UNIC Bonn)
Haus Carstanjen
Martin-Luther-King-Str. 8
53175 Bonn
Tel: 0228 / 815-2770
Fax:0228 / 815-2777
E-mail: unic@uno.de
Internet: http://www.uno.de
United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
Freiwilligenprogramm der Vereinten Nationen
Haus Carstanjen
Martin-Luther-King-Str. 8
53153 Bonn
Tel: 0228 / 815-2000
Fax:0228 / 815-2001
E-mail: hq@unv.org
Internet: http://www.unv.org
Secretariat of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC)
Sekretariat der Klimarahmenkonvention
Haus Carstanjen
Martin-Luther-King-Str. 8
53175 Bonn
Tel: 0228 / 815-1000
Fax:0228 / 815-1999
E-mail: secretariat@unfccc.int
Internet:http://www.unfccc.int
Secretariat of the United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
Sekretariat der Konvention zur Bekämpfung
der Wüstenbildung
Haus Carstanjen
Martin-Luther-King-Str. 8
53175 Bonn
Tel: 0228 / 815-2800
Fax:0228 / 815-2898/99
E-mail: secretariat@unccd.int
Internet: http://www.unccd.int
United Nations Environment
Programme/Convention on Migratory Species (UNEP/CMS)
Sekretariat des Übereinkommens zur Erhaltung der wandernden wildlebenden
Tierarten
Haus Carstanjen
Martin-Luther-King-Str. 8
53175 Bonn
Tel: 0228 / 815-2401
Fax:0228 / 815-2449
E-mail: cms@unep.de
Internet: http://www.wcmc.org.uk/cms
International Labour Organisation
(ILO)
Internationale Arbeitsorganisation
Hohenzollernstr. 21
53173 Bonn
Tel: 0228 / 362 322
Fax:0228 / 352 186
E-mail: bonn@ilo.org
Internet: http://www.ilo.org/bonn
European Centre for Environment and
Health (WHO/Europe)
Europäisches Zentrum für Umwelt und Gesundheit des Regionalbüros für
Europa der Weltgesundheitsorganisation
Hermann-Ehlers-Str. 10
53113 Bonn
Tel: 0228 / 20 94-0
Fax:0228 / 20 94-201
E-mail: info@ecehbonn.euro.who.int
Internet: http://www.who.dk/
International Centre for Technical and
Vocational Education and Training (UNEVOC)
Internationales Zentrum für Berufsbildung
UNESCO Centre
Hermann-Ehlers-Str. 10
53113 Bonn
Tel: 0228 / 243 37-0
Fax:0228 / 243 37-77
E-mail: info@unevoc.de
Internet: http://www.unevoc.de/bonn