Bonn-Information is already receiving an increasing number of inquiries about the cherry blossom season. The blossoming period is heavily dependent on the whims of the April weather and is therefore difficult to predict. Given the wintry temperatures, cherry blossom fans will probably have to wait until early or even mid-April.
Bonn's cherry blossoms are at their most impressive on Heerstraße and Breite Straße. Tourists and amateur photographers from all over the world then flock to the old town to take the most beautiful cherry blossom photo. These pictures literally go around the world: numerous bloggers mention the pink blossoming Old Town in their personal best lists, and Heerstraße is repeatedly listed among the most beautiful avenues in the world. On social media, Bonn's cherry blossom has long since become a hit in its own right.
Heerstraße and Breite Straße car-free on three weekends
This year, the city is once again preparing for numerous visitors during the cherry blossom festival: Heerstraße and Breite Straße are to remain largely car-free following a decision by the Bonn district council and will be closed to through traffic on three weekends (April 8/9, April 15/16 and April 22/23) from 11 am to 8 pm. The closure applies to the entire Breite Straße as well as the section of Heerstraße between Kölnstraße and Vorgebirgsstraße. Residents and delivery vehicles are exempt from this regulation.
The city will post signs prohibiting the passage of vehicles. If necessary, the city's public order service will also set up barricades at the entrances to streets where this is necessary for traffic safety due to the high volume of visitors. During the cherry blossom season, coaches are generally prohibited from passing through.
The city asks all road users to show consideration for each other. Signs with the message "Attention pedestrians" are intended to ensure attention and safety. As a general rule, it is advisable not to drive to the Old Town, but to travel on foot, by bike or by bus and train.
The city will once again provide toilet cubicles for visitors - in the schoolyard of the Marienschule in Heerstraße and at the City Hall on the corner of Maxstraße and Breite Straße. They are also barrier-free and will be cleaned regularly. Bonnorange will also clean the streets more intensively during the cherry blossom season and empty the litter bins in the old town at least twice a day.
Varieties of Japanese flowering cherry grow in the old town
"Prunus serrulata" (Japanese flowering cherry) is the name of the trees that give Bonn's old town its pink blossoms. Different varieties of this ornamental cherry grow in the district, whose flowering periods begin gradually and overlap from the end of March until around mid-April. It starts in a small cul-de-sac in Maxstraße, then ornamental cherries gradually bloom in Michaelstraße, Dorotheenstraße, Franzstraße, Georgstraße, Paulstraße, Wolfstraße and Schützenstraße.
A little later, Maxstraße and Peterstraße are the first highlights: Japanese columnar cherries (Prunus serrulata 'Amanogawa') bloom there in April. The flowers of these somewhat more delicate trees are light pink.
The grand cherry blossom finale takes place around mid-April in Heerstraße and Breite Straße. There are around 60 Japanese clove cherries (Prunus serrulata 'Kanzan') on each street. This cherry variety is famous for its particularly lush, bright pink flowers.
The flowering period lasts a maximum of ten to fourteen days - the warmer it is, the quicker it ends.
Cherry trees should bring color to the old town
The ornamental cherries were planted at the end of the 1980s as part of a comprehensive urban redevelopment project. Prior to this, the old town was an outdated craftsmen's quarter, characterized by through traffic and grey facades. The redevelopment was intended to improve the ecological situation and the quality of life in the district. The historic facades were renovated, traffic was calmed and the streets and backyards were greened. The Japanese flowering cherries along the roadside were intended to provide a special color accent in the old town. The fact that the pink blossoms would one day become a crowd-puller and trademark of the district exceeded all expectations.
Information on the cherry blossom in Bonn can also be found at www.bonn.de/kirschbluete. (opens in a new tab)