53 moments

1. Born at Bonngasse 20

   1770-12-16 · Beethoven-Haus, Bonngasse 20, Bonn, Germany

   

   Beethoven was born in the Bonn house now preserved as the Beethoven-Haus museum. 16 December is the accepted birth date, inferred from the documented baptism on 17 December.

2. Childhood home in Rheingasse

   1777-02-01 · Former Beethoven family home, Rheingasse, Bonn, Germany

   

   The Beethoven family moved to Rheingasse, where Ludwig spent a substantial portion of his childhood. The historical building no longer survives; coordinates represent Rheingasse in central Bonn.

3. Child-prodigy concert in Cologne

   1778-03-26 · Former Academy Building, Sternengasse, Cologne, Germany

   

   Seven-year-old Beethoven appeared with one of his father’s singing pupils in his first documented public concert. The venue no longer survives; coordinates represent the historical Sternengasse area.

4. Performed for the stadtholder

   1783-01-01 · Buitenhof, The Hague, Netherlands

   

   During a journey with his mother, Beethoven performed for William V, Prince of Orange, and received 63 guilders. The year is supported, but the precise performance date is not established.

5. First extended stay in Vienna

   1787-01-01 · Vienna, Austria

   

   The sixteen-year-old musician reached Vienna for an educational visit associated with his ambition to learn from Mozart. The source establishes a roughly ten-and-a-half-week stay but not an exact arrival day.

6. Returned to his final Bonn home

   1787-01-01 · Former Beethoven family home, Wenzelgasse 25, Bonn, Germany

   After the Vienna journey, Beethoven returned to the Wenzelgasse residence where his mother died in July 1787. The courtyard house was demolished in 1928; coordinates represent Wenzelgasse 25.

7. Stayed at the Black Eagle inn

   1787-01-01 · Former Zum schwarzen Adler inn, Munich, Germany

   

   On his return journey from Vienna, Beethoven stopped in Munich and lodged at the Black Eagle inn. The inn’s exact historical coordinates were not established; the point represents central Munich.

8. Visited Stein’s workshop

   1787-01-01 · Ulrichsplatz, Augsburg, Germany

   

   Beethoven visited the celebrated piano builder Johann Andreas Stein during his return journey to Bonn. The source identifies Stein’s home and workshop at Ulrichsplatz but gives no exact visit date.

9. Heard Sterkel in Aschaffenburg

   1791-01-01 · Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, Germany

   During the electoral orchestra’s official journey, Beethoven stopped in Aschaffenburg and closely observed pianist Franz Xaver Sterkel. Settlement coordinates are used because the precise meeting site is not identified.

10. Court-orchestra visit to Mergentheim

    1791-09-01 · Bad Mergentheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

    Beethoven accompanied Elector Maximilian Franz’s court orchestra to the Teutonic Order’s General Chapter. The documented stay extended through September and October 1791.

11. Played at the Godesberg Redoute

    1792-07-01 · Redoute, Bad Godesberg, Bonn, Germany

    Beethoven played in the electoral orchestra when Joseph Haydn stopped in Bonn on his return from London. Only month-level precision is supported.

12. Relocated permanently to Vienna

    1792-11-01 · Vienna, Austria

    

    Beethoven left Bonn to study with Haydn and made Vienna the permanent base of his adult career.

13. Summer visit to Eisenstadt

    1793-06-01 · Eisenstadt, Burgenland, Austria

    Beethoven traveled to Eisenstadt, probably in connection with Haydn, and wrote from there after 19 June. The surviving letter proves presence after 19 June; the precise day is unknown.

14. Vienna public debut

    1795-03-29 · Former Burgtheater, Michaelerplatz, Vienna, Austria

    

    Beethoven began his three-day Viennese public debut by performing one of his piano concertos at the court theatre. The old Burgtheater at Michaelerplatz was demolished in the late nineteenth century.

15. Improvised at the Berlin Singakademie

    1796-01-01 · Singakademie, Berlin, Germany

    

    During his Berlin stay Beethoven twice visited the Singakademie and impressed its musicians with his improvisations. Coordinates represent the historical Singakademie area near Unter den Linden.

16. Performed for the Prussian king

    1796-01-01 · Potsdam City Palace, Potsdam, Germany

    

    Beethoven performed with cellist Jean-Pierre Duport before Frederick William II and developed the cello sonatas published as Op. 5. The source does not definitively identify whether the performance occurred in the city palace or crown prince’s palace; the city palace is a representative court location.

17. Played for the Saxon elector

    1796-01-01 · Dresden, Saxony, Germany

    

    Beethoven continued his concert tour to Dresden, where he performed privately for Frederick Augustus III. The source calls Frederick Augustus king anachronistically; he was Elector of Saxony in 1796.

18. Tour stop in Leipzig

    1796-01-01 · Leipzig, Saxony, Germany

    

    Leipzig formed one stage of Beethoven’s extended 1796 journey through central and northern Germany. Little is known about his activities or precise dates in Leipzig.

19. Concert tour reaches Prague

    1796-02-01 · Prague, Czech Republic

    

    Traveling with Prince Karl Lichnowsky, Beethoven began his most important concert tour and spent about two months among Prague’s aristocratic music circles. The tour began in February; surviving evidence does not provide a precise Prague arrival day.

20. Concert visit to Pressburg

    1796-11-19 · Bratislava, Slovakia

    Beethoven was in Pressburg during a further concert journey and wrote to piano maker Andreas Streicher from the city. Pressburg is present-day Bratislava.

21. Heiligenstadt retreat

    1802-04-01 · Heiligenstadt, Vienna, Austria

    

    On medical advice Beethoven withdrew to rural Heiligenstadt while confronting his worsening hearing loss. Coordinates represent the historic village center; his exact lodging during the entire stay remains debated.

22. Wrote the Heiligenstadt Testament

    1802-10-06 · Heiligenstadt, Vienna, Austria

    

    In Heiligenstadt Beethoven wrote the unsent testament describing his despair over deafness and determination to continue his artistic work. Probusgasse 6 is traditionally associated with the document, but the precise room is not securely established.

23. Composer-in-residence at Theater an der Wien

    1803-04-01 · Theater an der Wien, Vienna, Austria

    

    Beethoven resided in the theatre complex while mounting the large academy that premiered his Second Symphony and Third Piano Concerto. The lodging served at times as a secondary address within the theatre complex.

24. Residence at the Pasqualati House

    1804-01-01 · Pasqualati House, Mölker Bastei, Vienna, Austria

    Beethoven began a series of stays in Baron Pasqualati’s bastion house, an important composing residence during his middle period. The apartment displayed today may not correspond exactly to Beethoven’s historical rooms.

25. Summer at Prince Lichnowsky’s castle

    1806-08-01 · Hradec nad Moravicí Castle, Hradec nad Moravicí, Czech Republic

    Beethoven stayed at Prince Lichnowsky’s Silesian estate until a dispute over performing for visiting French officers prompted his departure. Grätz in Silesia is present-day Hradec nad Moravicí.

26. Summer cure in Baden

    1807-06-13 · Baden bei Wien, Lower Austria, Austria

    A dated letter places Beethoven in the spa town of Baden during an early documented summer stay. The precise lodging is not established by this source.

27. Mass in C performed in his presence

    1807-09-13 · Bergkirche, Eisenstadt, Burgenland, Austria

    Beethoven attended the ceremonial Eisenstadt performance of his Mass in C, after which Prince Esterházy criticized the work. The Mass is generally associated with the Bergkirche; the quoted source specifies Eisenstadt rather than the building.

28. Summer residence in Heiligenstadt

    1808-07-01 · Grinzinger Straße, Heiligenstadt, Vienna, Austria

    

    Beethoven lived in Heiligenstadt while negotiating publication of major works including the Fifth and Sixth symphonies. The exact historical house number is not established here; coordinates represent Grinzinger Straße in Heiligenstadt.

29. Premiere marathon at Theater an der Wien

    1808-12-22 · Theater an der Wien, Vienna, Austria

    

    Beethoven organized and participated in the celebrated four-hour academy premiering the Fifth and Sixth symphonies, Fourth Piano Concerto, and Choral Fantasy.

30. First Teplitz cure

    1811-08-23 · Teplice, Czech Republic

    Beethoven spent part of the summer at the Bohemian spa of Teplitz seeking relief from poor health and hearing problems. The modern place name is Teplice.

31. Returned to Teplitz

    1812-07-06 · Teplice, Czech Republic

    

    Beethoven was again taking a cure in Teplitz when he began the celebrated letter to his unidentified “Immortal Beloved.” The specific Teplitz lodging is not stated.

32. Benefit concert in Karlsbad

    1812-08-06 · Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic

    Beethoven and violinist Giovanni Battista Polledro gave a hurried benefit concert for victims of a destructive fire in Baden. Karlsbad is present-day Karlovy Vary; the concert venue is not specified.

33. Spa stay in Franzensbad

    1812-08-09 · Františkovy Lázně, Czech Republic

    After Karlsbad, Beethoven continued his prescribed spa circuit and wrote to his publishers from Franzensbad. Franzensbad is present-day Františkovy Lázně.

34. Visited Johann near Linz

    1812-10-01 · Linz, Upper Austria, Austria

    

    Beethoven traveled to his brother Johann’s home and unsuccessfully tried to prevent Johann’s marriage to Therese Obermayer. The canonical biography dates the visit but does not name the place in the quoted sentence; Johann was then established in Linz.

35. Taking the waters in Baden

    1816-09-06 · Baden bei Wien, Lower Austria, Austria

    A dated letter places Beethoven in Baden during the period of his guardianship dispute over his nephew Karl. The precise Baden lodging is not identified.

36. Stayed at Pfarrplatz 2

    1817-05-01 · Pfarrplatz 2, Heiligenstadt, Vienna, Austria

    Beethoven occupied rooms at the Pfarrplatz house during a short Heiligenstadt health retreat. The exact room assignment rests partly on local tradition.

37. Summer residence in Nussdorf

    1817-07-01 · Greiner House, Kahlenberger Straße 26, Nussdorf, Vienna, Austria

    After briefly returning to central Vienna, Beethoven settled in Nussdorf and remained there into October. The date marks a documented point during a longer summer and autumn residence.

38. Final day of Nussdorf residence

    1817-10-13 · Nussdorf, Vienna, Austria

    Writing from Nussdorf, Beethoven announced that he would move back into Vienna the following day.

39. Summer in the Hafner House

    1818-05-01 · Hafner House, Hauptstraße 79, Mödling, Austria

    Beethoven and Karl rented rooms in master potter Jakob Duschek’s house, where Beethoven worked on the Hammerklavier Sonata. The stay began by May, when Beethoven started taking the waters.

40. Guardianship work from Mödling

    1819-07-19 · Mödling, Lower Austria, Austria

    While spending another summer in Mödling, Beethoven handled legal and educational matters concerning his nephew Karl. The source does not identify Beethoven’s exact 1819 lodging.

41. Another Mödling summer

    1820-05-12 · Mödling, Lower Austria, Austria

    Beethoven left Vienna for Mödling and continued work associated with the Missa solemnis. Exact lodging is not specified.

42. Composed an exercise in Mödling

    1820-09-11 · Mödling, Lower Austria, Austria

    A copied heading records Beethoven in Mödling preparing a compositional exercise for Archduke Rudolf. The evidence is a contemporary source heading rather than a travel record.

43. Taking a cure in Baden

    1822-09-13 · Baden bei Wien, Lower Austria, Austria

    Beethoven wrote from Baden while taking the waters and negotiating publication of the Missa solemnis. The precise lodging is not stated.

44. Country retreat at Hetzendorf

    1823-05-29 · Hetzendorf, Vienna, Austria

    Beethoven stayed in Hetzendorf while suffering from an eye infection and conducting subscription business for the Missa solemnis. Settlement coordinates are used because the exact house is not identified.

45. Continued work in Hetzendorf

    1823-08-02 · Hetzendorf, Vienna, Austria

    A second dated letter documents Beethoven’s continued presence in Hetzendorf during the summer in which he worked on the Ninth Symphony.

46. Ninth Symphony premiere

    1824-05-07 · Former Kärntnertortheater, Vienna, Austria

    

    At the premiere of the Ninth Symphony, Beethoven stood beside conductor Michael Umlauf and beat time, though the performers had been instructed to follow Umlauf. The Kärntnertortheater was demolished; coordinates represent its former site.

47. Convalescence in Baden

    1825-05-13 · Baden bei Wien, Lower Austria, Austria

    Beethoven was recuperating in Baden after a sudden illness while continuing work on his late quartets. The exact lodging is not identified.

48. Summer composing in Baden

    1825-08-24 · Baden bei Wien, Lower Austria, Austria

    Beethoven spent the summer in Baden, corresponding with Karl in Vienna and working amid the creation of his late quartets.

49. Moved into the Schwarzspanierhaus

    1825-10-01 · Former Schwarzspanierhaus, Schwarzspanierstraße 15, Vienna, Austria

    

    Beethoven took the Vienna apartment that became his final residence and the setting for work on several late quartets. The building was demolished in 1903; coordinates represent its former location.

50. Recuperated at his brother’s estate

    1826-10-13 · Wasserhof estate, Gneixendorf, Krems an der Donau, Austria

    Beethoven stayed at Johann’s Wasserhof estate after Karl’s suicide attempt and completed work on the String Quartet Op. 135. Coordinates represent the Gneixendorf estate area.

51. Departed Gneixendorf for Vienna

    1826-12-01 · Wasserhof estate, Gneixendorf, Krems an der Donau, Austria

    Beethoven left his brother’s estate in an open carriage; the arduous winter journey preceded his final illness. This card records his last documented departure from Gneixendorf rather than a separate destination.

52. Returned gravely ill to Vienna

    1826-12-01 · Former Schwarzspanierhaus, Schwarzspanierstraße 15, Vienna, Austria

    

    Beethoven reached his Schwarzspanierhaus apartment seriously ill after the journey from Gneixendorf and remained there for the rest of his life. The precise arrival day is not established.

53. Died in the Schwarzspanierhaus

    1827-03-26 · Former Schwarzspanierhaus, Schwarzspanierstraße 15, Vienna, Austria

    

    After months of severe illness and repeated medical procedures, Beethoven died in his Vienna apartment at age 56. The historical building no longer exists.