The City of Bonn : Living the Past
I stepped out of the Bonn Central Station. I see every city as a living being and radiating a certain emotion. Bonn the city at the banks of Rhine river, it felt as if she feels proud about her past and how she has sustained herself through the course of the time. Every wall had a story to tell; and, I was ready to listen!
The City of Bonn is one of the oldest cities of Germany, founded in 1st Century BC as part of Roman Settlements. The city has flourished and tackled numerous challenges since then.
Playing around such history and taking the obvious curiosity along, I crossed the street.
After walking a little from the central station, I reached to "Münster Platz", where I saw a glorious Beethoven Memorial. The Statue depicts the exact emotions of Beethoven.
The Inauguration story of this statue has a wonderful anecdote. The time was 1845, and to make the event famous, organizers had invited the Prussian King, Queen Victoria and Alexander from Humboldt. However, the Queen had a special wish to sit little above people so that she could see everyone. Finding no other alternative, the building behind the statue was chosen. It was highly inappropriate and disrespectful to the Monarchy to show someone’s back. The Monarchs faced the back of Beethoven. It was a grave mistake committed by organisers which had made the Monarchs angry. This event was considered to be a disaster by the media during that period. Today, that building is a Post Office. It’s amazing how silent buildings have so many stories beneath them.
This picture brings back the memories of the World war. The tiny tail kind of thing which is visible in the picture is a bomb which was stuck and couldn’t destroy the holy place. Bonn was the least destructed city with 50% destruction rate. Most of the German cities were 90 to 100% destroyed.
This pole had a unique role in the social system of medieval Bonn. Whoever committed a crime, was tied to this pole with chain and everyone who crossed the street had a right to beat that person. Crime can be from gossip to theft. Bigger crimes had Execution orders for which tickets were sold. There used to be even a trade of prisoners to smaller villages which didn't host many executions. Strange times!
Also, when women were caught fighting, they were tied against each other in a way that they would only see nothing but each other and would be forced to settle their problems.
This is the City map of Bonn. This explains all the important locations of the city. Example as the long train like-building was the Palace of the Prince which was later turned to be the University building.
This is the entrance to the famous University of Bonn which has hosted great minds of the world. Albert Einstein used to teach here. Karl Marx studied here. Karl Marx was caught heavily drunk one evening and was behaving rudely. His inappropriate behavior was noted in the "Guilty Book". It still can be seen today. No Wonder he gave rise to an anarchist system! Haha.
Walk straight and then you'll see this magnificent building, which is "Alter Rathaus", which means, old administration building. Famous figures who visited the city would address the citizens from the podium of Rathaus.
This is the view from the Rathaus Podium.
This Pole has a great significance for the people of Bonn. One Archbishop who ruled the city had destroyed the economy of the city by spending the money where it wasn't necessary. The Archbishop after him used all the money for the welfare of the people. As a gesture of gratitude, People of Bonn built this Pole to honor his services. The Crown was stolen by the invaders then.
This is the oldest brewery and Pub of the city where Beethoven used to come with his girlfriends. It was built in the 13th Century.
If we step off at Alter Rathaus, we see all these books marked with their author's names who had been here. Also, this place was infamous to burn the books during the Nazi era.
This Church was built by the Catholics to attract the people who were turning to Protestantism during the era of Renaissance. This Church is so glorious that the inner parts of it are made out of Pure gold.
The Statuesqueness of Gold inside the Church.
This picture is regarded as a symbol against the disparity of Capitalism. This is placed in right in the center of the Market surrounding all the malls and showrooms. How ironic!
This is the Birthplace of one of the greatest musicians, Ludwig Van Beethoven. His Name may sound Dutch, but he indeed was a German. Since Bonn was invaded by people of Dutch and French origin, those signs are visible in the names of South West Germany's residents.
This is the famous bar where Beethoven's father used to come. It is right next to their home. When he died, people came to pay condolences to Bar owner first and then went to his home. Such craziness! Also, during that time, to make wine sweeter, Some of the makers started adding Led. This gave a good taste but affected the health. Beethoven was a great fan of such wines and because of the ill effects of it, he was always grumpy. Overdrinking is regarded as a reason for his death at a very young age(31).
This gate is one of the last remains of the wall surrounding the city during the Roman era.
The city of Bonn has many legends. Every street has an associated story.
It also explains why it is important to preserve and respect the past.
