Bonn lights up New city festival brought a Christmas mood to Bonn

Bonn · Bonn bustled this weekend as visitors enjoyed Sunday shopping and the illuminations in the city centre.

The Sterntor in Bottlerplatz was illuminated in violet, orange and blue and many passersby stopped to take each other’s photos in front of the relic of the Middle Ages in its new colours. At the start of “Bonn lights up” at the weekend, the city centre shone on Saturday evening in a glittering play of colours. There were unusual light installations in prominent locations. One passerby said it was a great idea, having just taken a family photo with his young child.

“It looks nice and gives the city a completely different charm,” he added. “We try to fit the lighting to the object,” explains Uwe Senkel from the World of Lights team in Unna. They and another company produced “Bonn lights up.”

The trees in Bottlerplatz were lit with bright colours and Beethoven stood on a balcony high over the Friedensplatz in green and orange lights. In the Marktplatz, both the Old Town Hall and the obelisk were part of the illuminations. “The town hall is a magnificent building. Instead of overloading it with a lot of pizzazz and fuss, we tried to accentuate the beautiful façade,” explains Senkel.

The head of City-Marketing, Maike Reinhardt, said on Sunday she was very pleased with the start: “We are hearing only positive things; people really like the idea.” This year’s event is only a small start. City-Marketing is planning a much more extravagant illumination in the coming years. “We want to use much more elaborate technology and bit by bit include the neighbouring areas of the city like Beuel and Bad Godesberg,” says Reinhardt. To bring the plans to fruition, City-Marketing needs over 200,000 Euro for the city centre alone and is therefore hoping to find sponsors.

With the numerous lights at dusk and the delicious aromas coming from the Münsterplatz, the November afternoon reminded many visitors of a Christmas atmosphere. “It looks like a Christmas market,” cried one schoolgirl. But “Bonn lights up” should serve more to “get people used to the darker time of year,” says Reinhardt. After the many disputes over events no longer taking place, she is sure it will do the city good to delight over “Bonn lights up.”

Original text: Rebecca Deus. Translated by Kate Carey.

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