Hofgarten, Bonn

The Hofgarten is a park in Bonn. It is partly part of the city center, partly part of the southern part of the city and borders on the northwest on the main building of the University of Bonn, the Electoral Palace. In the 18th century, the park was created as a garden for the residence of Elector Clemens August. Today, due to its central location, the Bonn Hofgarten is a popular recreation area, especially among students.

From June 1945 to May 1947, a transit camp for released prisoners of war existed on the Hofgartenwiese, through which 145,779 people passed. On the first German "Tree Day" on April 25, 1952, Federal President Theodor Heuss planted a maple in the Hofgarten together with the President of the Schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald, Federal Minister of the Interior Robert Lehr. On June 16, 1964, Federal President Heinrich Lübke inaugurated a simple bronze memorial plaque in the courtyard garden on the steps of the Academic Art Museum as a memorial to the victims of wars and tyranny. The plaque was created by the sculptor Kurt Schwippert and was used for wreath-laying ceremonies by representatives of the German state and state guests until it was moved to the North Cemetery in the summer of 1980.

During Bonn's time as the seat of government of the Federal Republic of Germany, numerous demonstrations against the policies of the federal government took place in Bonn's Hofgarten. Particularly noteworthy are the demonstrations against the emergency laws of 1968 and those of the peace movement in the 1980s. At the events on October 10, 1981 and October 22, 1983, hundreds of thousands gathered in the Hofgarten for peace and disarmament and demonstrated against the NATO double decision. From December 1984, the university initially closed the Hofgarten to all large events. Due to the aforementioned use, it is a stop on the Weg der Demokratie history trail and, together with the Electoral Palace, is a listed building.

Bonn's Hofgarten is now also used for student rallies, university events and occasionally for large-scale events.