Beethoven Museum

The basics

Learn about Beethoven's life and work via the collection of letters and journals—plus photo and video installations—at the Beethoven Museum in Heiligenstadt, included in the Vienna Flexi Pass. Though the city has long since expanded to absorb this district, in the early years of the 19th century, Heiligenstadt was a peaceful countryside retreat. Beethoven lived in or near this apartment around 1802 to escape the bustle of the city, work without distractions, and soak in the curative thermal waters of the local hot springs to alleviate his hearing loss.

Exhibits in the intact period rooms at the Beethoven Museum highlight compositions Beethoven created while he lived there, examine how he found a way to continue with his life and his music despite limited hearing, and show what the area of Heiligenstadt was like at that time. Another room in the apartment focuses on the composer’s final months and his death in the Schwarzspanierhaus.

Things to know before you go

• The museum focuses on both Beethoven’s personal life and his work, and is interesting for classical music and history buffs.

• Multimedia highlights include headphones that demonstrate Beethoven’s hearing loss and a video of Beethoven’s influence on modern culture from rock music to politics.

• There is a shady courtyard (with Beethoven’s Septet in E-flat major piped in) and a well-stocked Beethoven-themed gift shop, but no cafè.

• The historic building that houses the museum has steps to enter and to the exhibits, so it’s not accessible to wheelchairs or strollers.

How to get there

The outlying district of Heiligenstadt is a challenge to reach by public transport, so the easiest way to visit the museum is by taxi. Take the U4 metro line to the Heiligenstadt stop, then transfer to the 37A bus to Fernsprechamt Heiligenstadt or Armbrustergasse. Otherwise, take the 37 tram from central Vienna to the Hohe Warte stop.

When to get there

The Beethoven Museum is closed on Mondays and some holidays, plus over the lunch hour. This indoor museum is a perfect rainy-day outing and its slightly remote location far from the crowds in downtown Vienna makes for a welcome retreat during the busy summer tourist season.

Musician residence museums in Vienna

The Beethoven Museum in Heiligenstadt is just one of a clutch of former residences of famed musicians that have been converted into museums in Vienna. Pasqualatihaus, also dedicated to Beethoven, is where he composed Fidelio. Classical music enthusiasts can also visit Mozart’s Home (Mozartwohnung), the houses where Schubert was born (Geburtshaus) and died (Sterbewohnung), and the Johann Strauss Wohnung, where Strauss wrote The Blue Danube.