TRAVEL

BEETHOVEN’S BIRTHPLACE:

WELCOME TO BONNGASSE 20

TEXT: MARILENA STRACKE PHOTOS: DAVID ERTL

The Beethoven-Haus in Bonn is easily one of Germany’s most popular attractions across all ages. Here, visitors can step into the fascinating history of one of the greatest composers of all time and get a glimpse of how Beethoven lived, both as an artist and a human being.

There is no better way to experience history than fully immersing yourself in it. The BeethovenHaus, where Beethoven was born in 1770, presents precisely such a magical opportunity. As soon as you set foot into the beautiful inner courtyard, the atmosphere changes: history lingers in the air.

Since its complete makeover in 2019, the inspiring museum has shown itself in a contemporary, interactive way, allowing kids and adults alike to dive deep into the different aspects of Beethoven’s life. The newly expanded permanent exhibition now includes a vault of treasured original manuscripts and a music room through which to experience the sound of historic keyboards. Personal belongings, instruments and portraits complete the grand puzzle reflecting the composer’s work, thought processes and emotions. The fabulous Hermann J. Abs Chamber Music Hall, next to the museum, provides an excellent finish to a Beethoven-filled day. Its outstanding acoustics and elegant interiors have given it the reputation as one of the finest chamber music halls in Europe. Two highly recommended upcoming concerts feature Anna-Lucia Richter (9 November 2021) and Sebastian Knauer (26 November 2021).

Whether you are a music lover, a history buff or simply fancy experiencing an important piece of German culture, the Beethoven-Haus ticks all those boxes and more.

www.beethoven.de

The largest Hugo Boss outlet worldwide. Christmas at the Hugo Boss Platz Outletcity Metzingen.

TEXT: MARILENA STRACKE I PHOTOS: OUTLETCITY METZINGEN

WELCOME TO ONE OF EUROPE’S LARGEST SHOPPING OUTLETS WILLKOMMEN IN EINEM DER GRÖSSTEN OUTLETS EUROPAS

Outletcity Metzingen offers its guests numerous premium and luxury brands in flagship outlet stores, with an outstanding selection of products and year-round savings of up to 70 per cent off. Die Outletcity Metzingen bietet ihren Gästen zahlreiche Premium- und Luxusmarken in Flagship Outlet Stores mit einer herausragenden Produktauswahl und ganzjährige Preisvorteile mit bis zu 70 Prozent Rabatt.

The picturesque location 30 kilometres south of Stuttgart and around two hours from Zurich is one of the most successful factory outlets in Europe. Award-winning architecture and a metropolitan feeling within a charming neighbourhood featuring castles and palaces invite visitors to linger. When it comes to culinary adventures, too, the outlet city’s gastronomic scene is just as diverse as its architecture – from Almresi and its noble chalet chic and Dolce Vita at L`Osteria, to Asian cuisine at Champa.

A visit to Outletcity is particularly magical during the pre-Christmas shopping period. Attractions such as the large ice-skating rink and the towering Christmas tree make a stay in the area unforgettable. If you are looking to make your loved ones’ Christmas dreams come true, you will almost certainly find what you are looking for here, with around 130 premium and luxury brands on location, such as Gucci, Prada and Tommy Hilfiger. You can also browse stylish and sparkling looks for yourself, for any Christmas dinners and New Year’s Eve parties you have in the diary.

Guests who are visiting from outside the European Union qualify for tax-free shopping with additional savings of up to 14.5 per cent, and Der malerische Ort 30 Kilometer südlich von Stuttgart und rund zwei Stunden von Zürich entfernt, zählt zu den erfolgreichsten Factory Outlets Europas. Preisgekrönte Architektur und Metropolen-Feeling in reizvoller Nachbarschaft mit Burgen und Schlössern laden zum Verweilen ein. So vielfältig wie die Architektur ist auch die Kochkunst der gastronomischen Szene der Outletcity. Ob Almresi in edlem Chalet Chic, Dolce Vita bei der L`Osteria oder asiatische Kochkunst im Champa.

Besonders magisch gestaltet sich ein Besuch in der Outletcity während der vorweihnachtlichen Shopping-Zeit. Attraktionen, wie die Eislaufbahn und der große Weihnachtsbaum, machen den Aufenthalt in der City zu etwas ganz Besonderem. Wer seinen Liebsten Weihnachtsträume erfüllen möchte, wird hier bei rund 130 Premium- und Luxusmarken wie Gucci, Prada und Tommy Hilfiger fündig. Aber auch in eigener Sache lassen sich glänzende Looks für Weihnachts-Dinner und Silvesterparty finden.

Für alle Gäste, die ihren Wohnsitz außerhalb der EU haben, ermöglicht das Tax Free Shopping eine zusätzliche Preisersparnis von bis zu 14,5 Prozent mit sofortiger Rückerstattung vor Ort.

they benefit from an immediate VAT refund on site, at the Welcome Centre at Hugo Boss Platz of Outletcity. Use the code ‘discovergermany’ in the Outletcity App to get a digital VIP Shopping Pass with additional price advantages at 80 participating brands. You can also use the code ‘DISCOVER10’ to get an extra ten per cent discount in the online shop at outletcity.com/shop – on all styles with no minimum purchase value. Both are valid until 31 December 2021.