Beethoven House Bonn

Where the big composer was born

The house at the Bonngasse No. 20, in which Beethoven was born in 1770, is the family’s only residence in Bonn which is still maintained and still in its original condition. Since 1893, it has been accommodating a museum, which, in the meantime, presents the biggest Beethoven collection of the world.

The house, in which Ludwig van Beethoven was born in December 1770, is a centre of attraction for visitors from all over the world. Beethoven’s grandfather came from Mechelen in Brabant. In 1733 he took up a position as a bass player for the elector and was appointed director of a court orchestra in 1761. His father Johann was a court tenor. When he was 13 years-old, young Beethoven already became second court organist. In 1792, he left Bonn and went to Vienna. He did not assume at that time that he would never return to Bonn. Bonn’s royal household, however, dissolved due to the occupation of the Rhineland by the French troops.

Almost 100 years after Beethoven’s final farewell from Bonn twelve citizens from Bonn agreed to purchase Beethoven’s house of birth, which was still maintained in its essential parts, but was almost due for demolition. They constituted a corresponding association.  Up until today, this association (to which honorary members like Johannes Brahms and Guiseppe Verdi belonged) has been the bearer of the Beethoven House and owns the biggest Beethoven collection of the world. With a selection of more than 1.000 exhibits the museum presents the composer’s life and work. Next to his instruments and musical works there are also exhibits displaying Beethoven’s everyday life, exhibits ranging from a shopping receipt up to his ear-trumpets, with which the deaf composer desperately tried to at least maintain some of his hearing. Part of the very special treasures are the organ console from the old Minorite church, at which Beethoven played as a youngster, as well as Beethoven’s grand piano, which was put at his disposal by Conrad Graf, a piano constructor from Vienna. Moreover, one will find most of the authentic Beethoven portraits here at the museum. Right next to the Beethoven House there is the Beethoven archive with the chamber music hall, which offers an exquisite design and excellent acoustics. It is said to be one of the most beautiful concert halls at all.

The Beethoven House will soon be expanded by the “Digital Beethoven Salon”, which is still under construction at the moment, but supposed to offer a brand new way to the subject of Beethoven from 2003/04 on.
 
A virtual, three-dimensional workroom of Beethoven enables visitors to deal with the composer’s work interactively. At a computer desk he will be able to read Beethoven’s original manuscripts, letters and first editions and to listen to his music. This way, the historical atmosphere of Beethoven’s house of birth is connected with trend-setting information possibilities in a fascinating way and leads to a museum experience of a special kind.

Digital Beethoven House

With the studio for digital collections and the stage for musical visualisation in the Digital Bethoven House two further visitor sectors were opened in 2004. Here you can undertake an inactive trip through Beethoven's life and  work and experience a fascinationg 3-D production of his only opera "Fidelio".

Tip: Free admission with the Bonn Regio WelcomeCard !

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