Bonn University

The Prince Electors' Palace in the centre is the main building of the University of Bonn and was once the residence of the Prince Electors of Cologne. Today the building including the Hofgarten, the extensive grounds to the south of the palace, are protected as historic monuments.

The palace was built between 1567-1577 on the instructions of the Elector Salentin von Isenburg. In 1697-1705 the Prince Elector Joseph Clemens arranged for the Italian Enrico Zuccali to also construct a square internal courtyard. Between 1715-1723 Robert de Cotte opened up this building to the south and extended the ensemble around the Hofgarten with its views to the Siebengebirge. The building almost stretches to the Rhine with its long eastern wing. Michel Leveilly's Koblenz Gate has been inserted, over which a golden archangel reigns. The building was given its current appearance only as of 1777 after a fire.

The University of Bonn (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn) is one of the largest universities in Germany. It was established in 1818 and named after the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III.. The reason for its establishment was the wish to set up an academic institution for the two new Prussian provinces of Rhineland and Westphalia. The former Prince Elector's residential palace has been the main building of the University of Bonn since 1818, in which the Faculty of Arts is based.

The University of Bonn is not a campus university, but is divided over several sites throughout the city. Here approximately 32,000 young people from all over the world study in over 371 buildings.

Its most well-known students, graduates and professors include for example Pope Benedikt XVI., Heinrich Heine, Karl Marx, Konrad Adenauer or Robert Schuman.

Several museums are associated with the University. The Akademisches Kunstmuseum by the Hofgarten, the Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig or the Arithmeum with its extensive collection of historical calculating machines are only a few examples.

Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Regina-Pacis-Weg
53113 Bonn