Only one thread of geography links the famous German poets, authors and politicians such as Ferdinand Freiligrath, Konrad Adenauer, Stefan Andres, Willy Brandt and Leonhard Reinirkens with great industrial figures such as Fritz Henkel and important Prussian families of the 19th century: that is the place where they lived… Unkel on the Rhine. It is not a surprise, that this history today still influences the attractions and goals of this small wine town on the sunny side of the Siebengebirge. The picturesque streets, lined by half-timbered houses and the beautiful promenade on the banks of the Rhine give the town a special flair.

The cultural heritage of Unkel influences the annual cycle of events as much as the traditional festivals. Karneval in Spring, Kirmes in Summer and the Weinfest in Autumn have been a part of the Unkeler life for centuries. The cultural heritage comes to the fore in exhibitions such as “design + gestaltung am rhein” over Whitsuntide, The Carl Löwe Music Days, Music in the Medieval Streets of Unkel and Art in Unkeler Courtyards. These events are spread from Whitsuntide to September.

Unkel is the home of the newly inaugurated “Willy-Brandt-Forum”. Unkel was the chosen home town of the Ex-Chancellor and Nobel Prize Winner, Willy Brandt, and it is in Unkel where he died. The exhibition vividly portrays his life as an international statesman, a key German citizen and, above all, as a normal citizen of Unkel. The museum includes many original objects such as Willy Brandt’s chair in the German parliament, his home office, and the often-reproduced Meistermann portrait. Multimedia displays of interest to young and old are an additional feature of the exhibition.

The romantic town of „Oncale“ was already being written about in the year 886.  Wine cultivation played an important part in the economy even in these early times.  In the 16th century, Unkel built a city wall and two of its towers are preserved to this day on the banks of the Rhine.  Today, imposing houses still bear witnesses to the wealthy families from Cologne and Bonn who, in the 18th and 19th centuries, built their summer residences in Unkel.  Because of its this on-going cultural value, the historic old town of Unkel is listed in the Hague Convention as a community which may not be destroyed and this for all to read in the familiar blue and white signs in the town.  Nowadays, the traffic-free Rhine Promenade, with its tree-shaded avenue, rose garden and jetties for tourist ships is a well-liked spot for visitors from Germany and abroad.  

As in bygone years, Unkeler hospitality, local specialities and the typical Rhineland way of life still cause famous and influential persons to choose to live in Unkel. In the words of Leonhard Reinirkens: “to live and die in Unkel, what more could one want?” The fabulous view across the Siebengebirge with all its legends, the sunny vineyards, the romantic narrow streets and the colourful ships’ traffic on the Rhine enable visitors to forget their every-day lives and enjoy the “joie de vivre” of the Rhineland... in Unkel on the Rhine.