Bonn is a charming and welcoming city on the banks of the Rhine River.

With its cafés, bookstores, and public squares, Bonn gained worldwide renown on May 10, 1949, when it became the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany—a status it held for 42 years.

In 1991, Parliament decided that Berlin would be the capital of the reunified country; however, seven ministries remain in the city.

Bonn was founded by the Romans in 11 BC and reached its peak of splendor and grandeur thanks to the Archbishops of Cologne.

Yet, it became even more famous as the home of Ludwig van Beethoven—who was born there in 1770—and Robert Schumann, who spent the final years of his life in the city.

Beethoven's house, where he lived until the age of 22, is now a museum; it is a beautiful building constructed in the 18th century in the Baroque style.

The city offers a lovely blend of tradition (historic houses, churches) and modernity (contemporary art, university life).