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 The Localization Institute  MultiLingual Computing |
Tuesday Evening:
Reception at Old City Hall 8:00-9:30 PM First mentioned in 1393, the original medieval City Hall was destroyed in 1689 by Brandenburg troops. As late as 1737, Kurfürst Clemens August ordered a new, three-storey building. The building was planned and built by the bishop’s master builder, Michael Leveilly, who also constructed the magnificent Koblenzer Tor nearby. In architectural terms, the resulting building is, in fact, a Stadtpalais (town residence) sporting a double outside staircase. Its elaborate, rococo-style banister dates from 1765. The building was not just used as theCity Hall. It served as a venue for festivities of all kinds — as a ballroom, as warehouse, and as a store. A true multipurpose building! The 1737 building was destroyed during World War II and was rebuilt between 1946 and 1951. You will
enter the building via the outside staircase for the reception. Have a
look at the facade before climbing the stairs. Eight pilasters divide
the facade of the building’s upper two stories into seven sections.
Above the portal, you will see a clock flanked by two peacocks. And up
on the mansard roof, two mighty lions watch over the city’s coat
of arms. A while ago, it was repainted using light pink and white as it
had been painted when rebuilt in 1951. The original color used instead
of the pink was ocher, similar to the color of the University’s main
building, a corner of which you can glimpse to your right. There were
plans to repaint the building using the true, original coloring. The ensuing
"ocher versus pink row" among the citizens of Bonn is still
part of the local lore — and have a guess which party won! When you reach the top of the stairs, turn around and look in the direction of the market place. Many famous people have stood at exactly the same place you are now and delivered their speeches. Gottfried Kinkel und Karl Schurz did so in 1848, the black-red-gold banner of the 1848 revolution in their hands. Karl Schurz was later to become Secretary of the Interior of the United States. In 1949, the first Federal President of Germany, Theodor Heuss, addressed the citizens of Bonn, after his election. Other famous occupants of this spot were Charles de Gaulle (1962), John F. Kennedy (1963), and many more. You will
also notice the unusual shape of the marketplace. It has a trapezoidal
shape. This is a very rare public place design in Germany, and the marketplace
in Bonn constitutes, in fact, one of the very few examples of this shape
in Germany. When entering
the building, you will see the "Wölfchen" ("little
wolf"), a lion killing a boar. This sculpture once symbolized the
court district of Bonn and served as the exemplar for the city’s
coat of arms. And now – enough talking – enjoy the reception! Wednesday Evening:
Dinner Cruise on Rhine River, 7:00 PM Join us for a delightful evening cruise (about 4 hours) along one of the most romantic stretches of the Rhine River. The cruise takes us from Bonn along the former governmental area south to Bad Godesberg — with its former diplomatic residences. On the left side is the romantic town of Königswinter located at the foot of the Drachenfels (dragon's rock) mountain, so called because of the legend that Siegfried killed a mighty dragon up there (but actually because the top of the mountain consists of Trachyt, a volcanic rock.) On one of the next peaks there is the hotel Petersberg, the luxury meeting place for political summits during Bonn's era as the capital of Germany. Further on the cruise we will see the islands of Grafenwerth and Nonnenwerth, with its monastery. Next is Rolandseck with a wonderful panorama view of the Siebengebirge, a volcanic mountainous region with about forty peaks, one of the oldest national parks in Germany. After that is the romantic wine town, Unkel. And then on to Remagen, to the ruins of the Remagen bridge, one of the last bridges that was destroyed in World War II. The turning point is Linz, a picturesque little town with its halftimbered houses and Castle Linz. A buffet dinner will be served during the cruise. For more
information:
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2004 Localization World
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