Bonn, city in west central Germany, on the Rhine River, near Cologne. Bonn is located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen). The capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990, it remained the seat of government after Germany's 1990 unification, while Berlin was chosen as the national capital. In 1991 the German parliament voted to move the seat of government from Bonn to Berlin over an approximately 10-year period. The major phase of the move was completed by early 2000. A quiet, largely residential community centered around the University of Bonn (1786), the city became an important manufacturing center after World War II (1939-1945). Products include metal goods, chemicals, processed food, and office equipment.
Among the points of interest in Bonn is the imposing Münster (cathedral), a notable example of the late Romanesque style, built between the 11th and 13th centuries. Secular buildings include the Rathaus (town hall), completed in 1782; the house where composer Ludwig van Beethoven was born in 1770 and which now houses the Beethoven Museum; and the buildings of the university. The Bundeshaus (house of parliament), built in the early 1950s, is located near the Rhine. Other points of interest are Villa Hammerschmidt, residence of the federal president, and Palais Schaumburg, headquarters of the federal chancellor.
