Bonn and the Königswinter's castles

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For 41 years, from 1949 to 1990, this small city was the capital of Germany of the 'West.In 1990, after a parliamentary decision taken with a very small majority, he had to give this honor in Berlin. Some government offices have remained in Bonn after the relocation of the parliament and government in Berlin. And there are still more than 19 United Nations organizations that have offices in Bonn. But Bonn did not suffer much of the fact that it is not more capital, perhaps it is even good for the city no longer be known only as the capital, because the city has roots that go far beyond. Bonn can offer much to the tourist and precisely since 1990 the city has begun to cure and enhance its traditions and its monuments.

With the result that today's tourist inflow is much higher than once - Bonn counts 9 million visitors a year. The city also offers cultural and historical insights of considerable thickness, from the old town hall, the beautiful castle of the Prince Electors (now the seat of the prestigious university in the city and the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven. But after 1990 also have been built new museums that are among the most visited in all of Germany. Just the new role gives in Bonn the opportunity to put in perspective its quality and its beauty.


Panorama of the city of Bonn from the Drachenfels hill:

Just 20 minutes from Bonn, in the hilly region of the Siebengebirge, on the banks of the Rhine River, the lovely town of Königswinter offers some worthy attractions of a visit.

What to see:

The Drachenfels, the castle ruins where the legend says that Siegfried has faced the dragon (hence the name Dragon Drachen = FELS = rock); It is what remains of the castle erected here in 1138 about a strategic location for the defense of the city of Cologne.
Drachenfels is a ruin, there are only a few walls and there is nothing to see in itself, though near or stopping in a nice restaurant with a modern style, with a panoramic terrace overlooking the valley; here you can make a full meal or simply order something to drink.


Castle Drachenburg, which is located further downstream from the Drachenfels, which was built in 1800, once the private residence of a noble family, now a resort with rooms for receptions and weddings.
 Inside you can be visited all the rooms with period furnishings, and especially worth visiting the fabulous gardens and walkways along the exterior of the castle, which will give you fantastic views of the Rhine and the surrounding region. The entrance to the castle is a fee (6 euro for adults).

Cologne

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The German name is Köln, and is the largest city in the Nordrhein-Westfalen region, situated on the Rhine. Cologne was already inhabited by the Romans who have left important monuments in the city. Today is one of the most important industrial centers of western Germany. It was severely destroyed during the last war. Cologne has a famous and oldest university founded in the fourteenth century, is now one of the largest universities in Germany.

The people of Cologne are known for happiness and their carnival and for that annually attracts more than a million visitors from all over Germany. During a walk in the center must also taste the traditional city beer, "Kölsch". Starting from Köln there are many possibilities for boat trips on the Rhine.





What to see

Cologne Cathedral and the Roman-Germanic Museum

The city is dominated by the cathedral, an imposing Gothic building that alone would be enough to make Cologne a top tourist destination. The interior is surprising for the size especially for the height. The visit to the treasure you pay for but it's worth it. The cathedral can be seen from any part of the city and stands out in surprising ways. Do you go to Cologne without seeing it: it is a bit like going to Rome and not seeing the Colosseum!
Right next to the cathedral there is the Roman-Germanic Museum, which gives an idea of ​​everyday life 2000 years ago. It allows you to know the history of Roman civilization in the capital of the province of Lower Germany, Colonia Agrippina. The modern building, perhaps questionable from the urban point of view, compared to the splendid Gothic cathedral behind him, however, allows an excellent thematic exhibition, which shows the different aspects of daily life in Antiquity with wonderful exhibits, such as beautiful polychrome mosaics and epigraphs and funerary monuments of great interest, certainly a visit desirable not only for lovers of history and archeology but also for those who want to revisit the past and Roman world in this corner peripheral, yet strategically Roman Empire.

KölnTriangle

Getting on this tower placed on the other side of the Rhine over the old city is a must do. At a cost of only € 3 from up there you can see the panorama of the city at 360 °. The observation is made easier by the indications of the main buildings of the city places on the windows.

Flora Garten and the Cologne Zoo

First of all it's great that to enter in the Garden Botanical do not pay anything and is held  
fantastically, with flowers and well-kept facilities with which the public can interact, take pictures always without pay. Inside there is the "Dank Augusta" a local very distinctive offering lunch in jars and in place of Tray uses of funny shooper, very original.


 The Cologne Zoo is quite large, it takes at least five hours to visit it all, including the aquarium and the insectarium. Many of the species present, the flamingo, the tiger, all hippopotamus, elephants, monkeys of all kinds, far too many to list. It is a tour suitable for both children and adults, highly recommended. While cost is 19.50 € absolutely worth the effort.

Other

These are the main things to do in Cologne but if you have more days to visit this city I will also recommend: The 'Hiroshima Nagasaki and the Rheinpark, the Great St. Martin, the chair lift and the Hohenzollern Bridge.
For those who love shopping instead Cologne is the perfect city! The streets with more shops are Hohe Strasse and Schildergasse.

Two days in Munich

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FIRST DAY

Marienplatz and Karlsplatz

Marienplatz is the central square of Munich. The square is dominated by the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus). 
A high tower (81 meters) dominates the main façade and capture the attention of tourists because it hosts the famous Glockenspiel (literally "bell game"), the largest carillon in Germany which operates three times a day: at 11, at 12 and, from March to October, even at 17. At the east side Munich's Old City Hall (Altes Rathaus) is located. It's a gothic council hall and ballroom and tower, which have been reconstructed.
the area covering the Karlsplatz and Marienplatz is also great for those who want to shop because many shops.
Karlsplatz is a large square in the center of Munich. The most important building dominating the square is on the east side of the Karlstor, a gothic gate of the demolished medieval fortifications.
On the square there is a big fountain in the summer. In the winter they install an open-air ice drink.






English garden

English Garden is the largest urban park in Europe and is one of the largest Park in the world.
In this park there is a Chinese Tower (in wood and in the style of a pagoda), the Japanese tea house and the Amphitheater. The Japanese tea house is just around the Haus der Kunst in the English
Garden. E 'was built to mark the twinning with the Japanese city of Sapporo in 1972 at the Olympic Games in Monaco of Bavaria. Amphitheater right at the north end of the English garden, every year when the weather in the evening open-air theater, a classic comedy, listed in July. Admission is free.
The English garden has something to offer for all ages and interests. One thing that intrigued me a lot is the "Eisbachsurfer", ie small artificial waves created specifically for surf lovers!




Hofgarten

Hofgarten is an interesting garden located between the Munich Residenz and the English Garden. 
It was built in the period from 1613 to 1617 by order of King Maximilian I of Bavaria, giving it a remarkable Italian Renaissance style. In the center has a whole pavilion dedicated to the goddess Diana.


SECOND DAY

Olympiapark

It was built for the 1972 Olympic Summer Games.
 The complex draws people year-round with concerts, festivals and sporting events, and its swimming hall and ice-skating rink are open to the public. In the Olympiapark you can find the Olympiastadion and  the 290m Olympiaturm. From the latter you can see a beautiful view of the city with 7 euro ticket.

















BMW Welt and Museum

This museum is really beautiful and charming! If you want to have more information I leave the video that I posted on my youtube channel and you can see the museum as if there were really in!

ADVICE ON WHAT TO EAT

What to say, you know that the German cuisine is essentially composed of Wurst and Kartoffeln (potatoes) !!! They are curry-wurst, bratwurst or just typical white wurst typical in Bavaria, are all delicious! Of course accompanied by the Munich's beer for excellence: a Paulaner Weiss.