Sightseeing in and around Bonn
Hello everyone! :) Starting your Master’s does not only mean studying, it also means discovering a new city! We will present our favourite spots in Bonn, like Botanischer Garten, or places very near to our city, which you can reach with a short ride by bus or train. Both nature lover and history lover will find something for themselves!
Museums
Museum König by Klaudia İnanç
We are well into the winter season, weather changes constantly, thus I‘ve decided to introduce you to one of the museums - Museum König. This may be a good idea for the next cloudy afternoon!
In the museum you can transport yourself to a tropical rain forests, the polar regions and deserts. Your visit will be in line with the museum’s mission "Discovering and explaining biodiversity".
Let me show you my favourite pictures, then you decide whether it is worth a try!
The Haus der Geschichte by Ankit Chowdhury
Bonn is particularly well-known for its museums and art galleries, which are rich in history and inventiveness. The Haus der Geschichte, or Hause of History, is well-known among Bonn visitors. This “access free” museum houses World War II artefacts and much more; they even have a chunk of the Berlin Wall in one section. The location is great for history and political studies buffs. On an area of 4,000m2, more than 7,000 artefacts and 160 media exhibits chronicle modern German history in an international context. The permanent exhibition follows a chronological timeline and covers topics relevant to the era preceding and following German reunification from letters, newspaper cuts, art, and photos to the evolution of BMW and Mercedes. This state-occupied Museum is well worth a visit for everyone.
Schloss Augustusburg in Brühl by Klaudia İnanç
One of my favorite places is Brühl, especially the castle (Schloss Augustusburg), which is breathtaking! If you want to discover new places, but don't have much time, I recommend taking the train, going through a few stations and getting off at Brühl. You won't regret being there. Perhaps the castle does not look very impressive from the outside, presenting itself as a rather simple building. However, once inside you will change your mind 😊 And don't forget to look up, the ceilings are exceptional works of art. I'll share some photos with you in case my text is not enough to convince you to visit this place!
Nature
Kottenforst and Waldau by Ankit Chowdhury
There's more to Bonn than just the campus. The city is a really special destination to reside in because of its stunning scenery, energetic culture, and important historical background. There is something for every interest in Bonn, whether it's strolling along the Rhine River at a leisurely pace, visiting the quaint old town, or going to a Beethoven-themed classical concert. Bonn has plenty to offer everyone's interests. For nature lovers, there are lots of sites to visit, such as Kottenforst and Waldau, to mention a few, which are conveniently accessible from every corner of Bonn. The Kottenforst is a huge forest to the south, west, and north of the city, covering around 40 square miles. It is part of the Rhineland Nature Park (1,045 km2), and it is a popular hiking and walking destination, as well as the home of the Waldau Animal Park. The Kottenforst was previously home to Schloss Herzogsfreude, the hunting lodge of Clemens August of Bavaria, Prince-Elector and Archbishop of Cologne, who enjoyed hunting ere and built many of the forest's avenues.
The Waldau, which is part of the Bonn city forest, follows. It is in the Venusberg district, on the southern slope of the same-named mountain, and represents the northernmost portion of the Kottenforst. It is most well-known as a tourist attraction and is mostly made up of mixed woodland. The original vegetation was primarily oaks and hornbeams, with many pines introduced through forestry. The gnarled beeches and oak trees, some of which are up to 250 years old, stand out. A form of wood cutting practised here in the past inhibited beech tree growth and sometimes gave them a strange aspect (ghost forest). Tawny owls,Bechstein's bats, fallow deer, badgers, common toads, and grass snakes are among the wild animal species found in the Waldau.
Walking areas in Bonn by Halide Kahraman
Many of us have come from different countries or cities to live in Bonn. We all have a lot of responsibilities and sometimes managing them can be more difficult than we think. In such moments I have a suggestion for you to take a deep breath and relax. One of my favourite things to do in life is walking and exploring beautiful walking areas and Bonn has many beautiful walking areas.
hope you can enjoy these beautiful natural places and hear the sound of birds and trees.
Rheinaue Park: It is a 15-minute walk from the Heusallee building of the BCDSS, which we all have in common. It is a very accessible park when you want to take a walk during the day or have a summer picnic with your friends after class. It is a very nice alternative for those who want to relax without travelling too far from the city. I recommend you to visit the park by bicycle, especially on weekday mornings when it is quiet.
Waldau: Especially if you have a free day and want to spend time with your friends, this is the place for you. It is a fascinating place, deer lovers should definitely visit there. There are surprises for you.
PS: You can easily get there by bus from Bonn Hbf.
Ennert Park: It is a very nice park to watch the endless sky and to look at Bonn from afar. There are also tables where you can have a picnic if you want to go with your friends.
And finally, I would recommend listening to the Spotify playlist "secret garden" to accompany your walk, and encourage you to add any song that you think would fit into it!
Picnic in Brühl by Ishita Sarkar
Last summer, me and my classmates decided to go to a picnic in Brühl. And undoubtedly, this was one of the best summer experiences of that year. In fact, we were so engaged in just feeling the beauty of nature around the Brühl castle, that we completely forgot to enter the castle. The beautiful ponds, the bright green trees with its overarching branches and leaves, the cool wind, the peace of the shadows and the gorgeous swans seemed like the perfect calm summer aesthetic. Eventually we found a beautiful place to sit, put our mat on the green grass, laid down our snacks and drinks, put on some amazing music and the most therapeutic and memorable part of the day was our little painting session, as we also got to keep our paintings as a souvenir of such a beautiful experience.
Enjoying nature by Ishita Sarkar
Tannenbusch Park: Since a lot of students live in the Tannenbusch dorm, I know that most of you are familiar with the Tannenbusch Park, and those aren't, you are missing out on something really great. The Tannenbusch Park with its neverending green fields, especially during summer, will give you a feeling of deep internal serenity. Grab a book or a drawing copy or a diary and take a seat on one of those unfrequented benches in the shadows of the fresh greens of the Tannenbusch Park, listen to calming music, say hello to those jolly strollers with their dogs on your way, and I assure you that your day will be made!
Rhine: Since we are living in the NRW district, it would be so wrong to miss out on walks by the shores of the Rhine river, which luckily, is situated so close from the main station. Water always has a calming effect, and a long walk by the Rhine river in summer will refresh your mental sanity like nothing else. The experience in monsoon is also one of a kind. I remember once going on a walk by the Rhine with two of my batchmates and it started to rain heavily. We found ourselves a beautiful shed embraced by the leaves and flowers and branches of a happy spring. We sat there listening to the pitter-patter of the raindrops combined with the sound of Tagore's melodious ballad while the cool breeze blew through our faces and the smell of petrichor brought us inner tranquility.