BONN

city, North Rhine-Westphalia Land (state), Germany. The city is located on the Rhine River, about 15 miles (24 km) south of Cologne. From 1949 to 1990 it was the provisional capital of West Germany, and from 1990 it continued as seat of the German federal government. The oldest settlement known by the 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 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. 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. The Bundestag and the Bundesrat (legislative bodies), the Bundesprsident (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 Cologne 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. 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 (11th13th century) surmounted by five towers, of which the central (315 feet 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.