Beethoven’s Birthplace: A Walking Tour through Bonn’s Old Town

(15 reviews)

Bonn audio tour: Beethoven’s Birthplace: A Walking Tour through Bonn’s Old Town

This is a 1.2mi walking tour

It takes an average of 60 mins to complete.

Bonn

Germany

$8.99

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About the Tour

Bonn is best-known as two things: Beethoven’s birthplace, and the capital of West-Germany from 1949 to 1991. But did you know that it’s also one of Germany’s oldest cities, founded by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago?

On this walking tour, you’ll learn about Bonn’s interesting history and see which buildings have survived since the days of Beethoven.

The tour starts on Münsterplatz, the main square, next to Stadtmodell Bonn, a 3-D model of the city in 1794. Right next door, you’ll see the 11th century Bonner Münster (Minster of St. Martin’s), where Beethoven used to play the organ! As you wind through Bonn’s Old Town, I’ll point out houses that survived the war, and tell you about the role they played in Beethoven’s life.

You’ll pass by the baroque City Hall (Altes Rathaus Bonn) on Marktplatz (Market Square) en route to Beethoven’s birthplace which is, of course, a highlight. You’re welcome to interrupt the tour to visit the museum inside Beethoven-Haus, his former home. I’ll tell you about the musical prodigy’s family life and why ‘descendants’ of Beethoven may not actually be related to him

From there, you’ll walk down Sternstraße, a street filled with historical houses, on your way back to Münsterplatz to see the Beethoven monument.

On this hour-long tour, you’ll get the chance to:

Find out about Cassius and Florentius, two Roman martyrs who are buried underneath Bonner Münster
Sample some gummy bears or other Haribo treats when you pass the store, whose founder was a local
Admire the beautiful baroque Electoral Palace (Kurfürstliches Schloss), home to the prestigious Bonn University since 1818
Get introduced to St. Martin, a very popular saint revered by German kids who sing about his generosity every November 11
Learn about Catholics who allow women to become priests, and priests to marry
Picture how criminals were chained to the pillory in front of Bonner Münster during medieval times
Visit Elefant Bonn, a restaurant that’s been around since 1636, and enjoy tasty cinnamon buns from a historical bakery, Cinnamood Bonn
See the only remaining gate in Bonn’s Medieval city wall, and listen to some of Beethoven’s most beautiful music

So grab your camera, plug in your ear-phones, and join me on this fascinating and musical tour of Bonn’s Old Town!

Tour Producer

Jo Eckardt

59 tours

My name is Jo Eckardt. I studied literature, history, and social work - in Cologne and then in New York where I lived from 1984 to 2001. In 2001 I returned to Germany, settling in Berlin, my favorite city!

A few years later I started my own touring company called A Friend in Berlin (www.afriendinberlin.de). There is so much to see and experience in Berlin: the obvious highlights and landmarks, reminders of Berlin's complicated past, but also lots of surprises such as the many parks and canals, beer gardens, and amazing restaurants at reasonable prices. What I love most though are the stories behind the landmarks - when history becomes alive.

I also love traveling in other cities and regions, especially in historic towns, and I've created several VoiceMap tours to share my passion with you. Check out all my tours! I also write books, mostly in German, but some are in English too (under the name Jo Thun).

Preview Location

Location 22

Beethoven's Birth Place 2

It says "Haus im Mohren" named after the figure of an African on the facade. The figure is a copy because the original is stored elsewhere. There is criticism due to the fact that such figures, as well as the term "moor" are considered racist today.

Let me point out the hi... It says "Haus im Mohren" named after the figure of an African on the facade. The figure is a copy because the original is stored elsewhere. There is criticism due to the fact that such figures, as well as the term "moor" are considered racist today.

Let me point out the historic significance of the building. It replaced a much earlier building which dates back to the 1200s. The cellar is still from that period. It's one of the only residential buildings of the 1700s still standing in Bonn. Today the building is part of the Beethoven Museum.

It's in this house that Ludwig's baptismal feast took place on Dec. 17, 1770. That's because his godmother was Gertrud Baum and she lived here. Also attending was the Godfather who was Ludwig's parental grandfather, also called Ludwig. He lived across the street. The grandfather's house unfortunately did not survive the war.

Please step in front of the next building now, this is where Beethoven was born. You can stop the tour and visit the museum. Tickets are sold in the store across the street.

Beethoven's birthplace dates back to around 1700, built on the foundation and cellar of a medieval home, possibly dating back to the 1100s. The Beethovens lived in the back building.

Let me tell you a little bit about the Beethoven family. The parents were Johann van Beethoven, a musician himself, and his wife Maria Magdalena, born Keverich. They moved here in 1767. In the front of the building lived Johann Peter Salomon, also a musician, and the grandfather who lived across the street was also a musician, and so were other people living around here. Imagine what it sounded like when they all practised their instruments in the afternoon!

The Beethoven family lived in the back, of a three-room apartment. Ludwig was born in a small chamber under the roof, you can see it when you visit. When more siblings were born, the family moved to a larger apartment, and again, and again. None of the other apartments are still there, but I'll point out where one of them was later on.

The museum holds many objects once owned by the family, instruments, letters and original scripts. It's the largest and most important Beethoven museum in the world. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Martinsbrunnen
Bonner Pranger
Beethoven-Denkmal
Friedensplatz
Sterntor
Dreieck
St. Remigius
Altes Rathaus
Marktplatz
Remigiusplatz
Kurfürstliches Schloss
Kaiserbrunnen - Springbrunnen am Kaiserplatz
Hofgarten
Bonn University and State Library
Martinsplatz
Bonner Münster
Stadtmodell Bonn [1794]
Münsterplatz
Zehrgarten Inn
Pillory
Alte Post
Namen-Jesu-Church
Beethoven-Haus Bonn
Old City Hall
Bonn walking tour
Bonn city guide

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Ecke Budapester Str/Sternstraße, 53111 Bonn, Germany
Total distance

2km
Final location
In d. Sürst 4, 53111 Bonn, Germany
Distance back to start location

81.77m

Directions to Starting Point

The Münsterplatz is in the very center of Bonn's Old Town. It's a five-minute walk from the main train station.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

You may want to go inside the Münster (Bonn cathedral) as well as visit the Beethoven Museum. There are lots of cafés and restaurants along the way.

Best time of day

Best come during the day so that museums and churches are open. On Saturdays after 1 pm, and on Sundays, the University Building cannot be entered so you need to take a little detour at one point.

Precautions

Be aware of traffic when crossing the street.

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“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”