Beethoven House

Bonn, Germany

The Beethoven House in Bonn is a memorial site, museum and cultural institution serving various purposes. Founded in 1889 by the Beethoven-Haus association, it studies the life and work of composer Ludwig van Beethoven.

The centrepiece of the Beethoven-Haus is Beethoven's birthplace at Bonngasse 20. This building houses the museum. The neighbouring buildings (Bonngasse 18 and 24 to 26) accommodate a research centre (Beethoven archive) comprising a collection, a library and publishing house, and a chamber music hall. Here, music lovers and experts from all over the world can meet and share their ideas. The Beethoven-Haus is financed by the Beethoven-Haus association and by means of public funds.

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Details

Founded: 1889
Category: Museums in Germany
Historical period: German Empire (Germany)

Rating

4.3/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Michael Clayville (2 years ago)
Small house filled with interesting tidbits on Beethoven including a unique statue made from a plaster mask while he was not very old, the string quartet instruments he was gifted, items from his daily life, facsimile scores, ear trumpets, and info on his friends, patrons, and acquaintances. I recommend doing the audio tour as it will add quite a bit of context and information to the experience. Perhaps too much. If one were to listen to every entry in the guide you'd likely be there for several hours.
Pavel D. (2 years ago)
Visiting the house of the most famous Bonn citizen was great but left me with mixed feelings. Getting to the house was quite easy, Bonn city has done a very good job on this, as signs can be followed from all around the city. You have to buy tickets in the museum shop located on the opposite side of the street, however this is apparently not a well known fact as many visitors go straight to the house entrance. Backpacks are not allowed inside (you can lock in in the basement of the museum shop free of charge, only deposit needed) and photography is forbidden inside the house, however no reason was provided when asked why. Audio guide in 6 different languages was available in the store or via a downloadable audio app on the phone (don't forget headphones). The house itself was relatively small, compact, easy to navigate through and beautifully maintained. All important items (paintings, notes, musical instruments, letters) and memorabilia were displayed (however not all of them were original and did not add much to the authenticity of the experience) and through them you get to learn a lot about the composer's life. I feel it could be better organized as I didn't quite catch some of the milestones in Beethoven's life. I was a bit disappointed with the audio guide - the explanations were rather long (most of them were 2 to 4 minutes long) and maybe too detailed to the point it stopped being interesting to me (for example looking at one small medallion and listening to nearly 3 minute explanations seemed a bit much). On a positive note - some of the explanations were accompanied by Beethoven music. Honestly I was personally happier with the written notes located in each room. There is a possibility to visit a very tiny garden and take a picture of the house from there. The museum store offers many interesting items to buy - from books and CD's to cups, postcards and music boxes - and the staff was very nice and friendly. Toilets were located in the basement next to the locker room. The 10 EUR price tag as entry fee is on the higher spectrum of the museum's entrance fees but I guess it's adequate to the experience. My experience was generally good, but details matter and there are a couple of them to be improved in my opinion. Visited in July 2022.
Roland Ngam (2 years ago)
Beethoven's face is absolutely everywhere in Bonn, Germany. The house where he grew up is on a charming street in the city centre. Doesn't get too busy at the moment (2022- maybe because people are not travelling that much at the moment due to Covid?). Purchase tickets and memorabilia on the other side of the road. Closes around 5 p.m.
Fawzi Mourad (2 years ago)
Super exciting and unbelievable experience to be visiting where Beethoven used to live and walk in his shoes. Tip is to download the app and enjoy the stories and music. Recommended for music lovers and suitable for families, couples, and solo
Keysha Valentin Pedrosa (2 years ago)
Very nice place to visit. Well organized and informative. You will find a variety of Beethoven’s belongings as well as paintings and his music books and instruments. Loved it! Sadly no photos allowed inside the house.
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