Detour #45: Nürburgring to Bonn, Germany
The Nürburgring Nordschleife is one of the world’s truly great thrill rides, a rip-roaring roller coaster of race track that will have your car’s brakes wilting and your forehead sweating. But what if we told you there’s a road on the circuit’s doorstep that’s just as enjoyable to drive - and you don’t need to pay a penny for the privilege?
We discovered it by accident, during a long-weekend roadtrip to the Nürburgring, way back in 2006. As ever, getting a group of friends to commit to the drive took time, and once everyone had confirmed attendance the date of travel was looming as fast as a Porsche 911 Turbo steaming along a German autobahn. Hotels close to the circuit were fully booked. At least, those that didn’t resemble a flea-ridden bunk house were.
So we looked further afield, asked around, and were recommended the Rheinhotel Dreesen, in Bonn. It was affordable, had ample private parking and, best of all, the historic hotel was perched on the very edge of the Rhine’s bank, complete with a fabulous beer garten giving breathtaking views across one of the most significant rivers and transport routes in Europe.
The drive from the circuit would take slightly less than an hour, said the Internet. There were some grumbles from the group, but we had little choice. Then we got there, spent a day scaring ourselves around the Nordschleife and set off for Bonn. And just like that, we were converted.
The road to Bonn - the B257 - is as well surfaced as any race track. It is wide and open, affording excellent visibility and overtaking opportunities, while the corners are long and sweeping, letting you play with the load of the car. The scenery offers plenty to admire and outside of the pretty villages, like Adenau and Kalenborn that you pass through, there’s precious little traffic and plenty of opportunity to, ahem, press on.
By the time we arrived at the Rheinhotel, over several steins of weissbier, we were talking as excitedly about the drive there as we were discussing the hot laps around the Ring. Next time you visit the Nordschleife, give it a try and find out for yourself why the road to Bonn is almost as good as the Green Hell.
Words: James Mills Twitter | Instagram
Photography: Oskar de Jonge / Unsplash | Rheinhotel Dreesen