Bonn's great Romanesque minster is one of the finest churches in the Rhineland and the spiritual heart of the old city. The building spans six centuries of construction — the crypt dates from around 1060, the nave is late Romanesque, and the Gothic east choir was added in the 13th century.
The Münsterplatz outside is the liveliest square in the centre, ringed by street cafes and the weekly market. On the south side stands the Beethoven monument (1845), the composer immortalised in bronze with papers tucked under one arm. The square fills with people at all hours, and on summer evenings outdoor concerts sometimes take place against the minster's facade. Climb the tower for a view across the rooftops.