Musikerwohnungen of Vienna
("Musicians′ Flats") of the Wien Museum

Apart from its permanent exhibition at the Wien Museum Karlsplatz and some other branches, the town museum of Vienna also takes an effort to preserve the musical heritage of Austria. This includes the maintenance of exhibitions or mini-museums in the flats of famous composers. There are several of them sprinkled all over Vienna.

Mozartwohnung (Mozart′s Flat)

Given that Mozart moved around in criss-cross patterns all over Vienna, it would probably be easier to find a house in which he has NOT lived, but here we go: The "official" (ie. open for paying tourists) flat of Mozart can be found in the Domgasse not far from the Stephansdom.

This is where he lived between 1784 and 1787, a time at which he wrote "Le nozze di Figaro". This is also the reason why the house is called "Figarohaus". In 2006, the exhibition was extended and spiced up with some new items. For real aficionados of Mozart, I would recommend to go to the entrance area of the church of the Ordo Teutonico / German Knights.

This is where Mozart was fired by the Prince Archbishop of Salzburg and got his butt kicked by Count Arco.

Beethoven Wohnung Heiligenstadt

North of the city centre you can find the flat where Beethoven spent the summer of 1802. Despite of the rather short amount of time he had lived there (Beethoven was a notorious house-mover and even more nomadic than Mozart), it was a crucial time for Ludwig.

This was where he wrote his Second Symphony. At the time, Heiligenstadt was a suburb and a popular summer retreat. Beethoven had tried to escape from the busy life of Vienna to cure his hearing problems. Realising that this did not work, he became increasingly desperate - and wrote his famous "Heiligenstädter Testament" or Heiligenstadt Will, in which he apologises to his brothers for being a prick and contemplates his life in a rather miserable manner.

Beethoven Eroicahaus

Another site that was a suburb at the time of Beethoven, the Eroicahaus can be found in Oberdöbling, today one of Vienna′s poshest districts. This is the site where he wrote the main part of the Third Symphony, the "Eroica".

Beethoven Pasqualatihaus

The house of Johann Knight of Pasqualati was built on the "Mölker Bastion", which is one of the few old bastions still preserved by the Ringstraße. Pasqualati was a friend of Beethoven, and the composer lived here twice: Between 1804 and 1808 as well as 1810 and 1814. It was here that he composed the Fifth Symphony and the Sixth Symphony, "Für Elise" and his only opera "Fidelio".

Haydnhaus in Mariahilf

Once Haydn had grown into a international superstar and decided to settle in Vienna, he bought a house in the district of Mariahilf, which happens to be my very own hood, too. The lane is named "Haydngasse" today and can be found off the Gumpendorferstraße. The flat is where he composed his works "Die Schöpfung" and "Die Jahreszeiten". He died here in 1809.

Franz Schubert′s Birthplace & Flat

Franz Schubert was born in this flat in the Nussdorfer Straße in the 9th district and spent the first four years of his life there. Today, the flat holds an exhibition that includes his famous glasses. For some reason that I don′t understand, there are paintings of his contemporary Adalbert Stifter, who is rather famous as a writer.

The flat in which Franz Schubert died can be found in the Kettenbrückengasse near the Naschmarkt area. It belonged to his brother Ferdinand and this is where he spent his last two months of his syphilis-troubled life. The exhibition in the flat includes some musical sketches as well as the last handwritten letter by Franz Schubert.

Johann Strauss Wohnung

The flat of Johann Strauss Jr. was used by the Master of the Waltz and hero of the Wiener Opernball in the 1860ies. It can be found in the Praterstraße in the Leopodstadt. This is where he composed his most famous Waltz, the "An der schönen, blauen Donau" or "Danube Waltz". This waltz is traditionally played just after midnight on New Years′ Eve all over Austria to welcome the New Year.

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Vienna by District

District Overview - 1st (Innere Stadt) - 2nd (Leopoldstadt) - 3rd (Landstraße) - 4th (Wieden) - 5th (Margareten)- 6th (Mariahilf) - 7th (Neubau) - 8th (Josefstadt) - 9th (Alsergrund) - 10th (Favoriten) - 11th (Simmering) - 12th (Meidling) - 13th (Hietzing) - 14th (Penzing) - 15th (Fünfhaus) - 16th (Ottakring) - 17th (Hernals) - 18th (Währing) - 19th (Döbling) - 20th (Brigittenau) - 21st (Floridsdorf) - 22nd (Donaustadt) - 23rd (Liesing) -  Ringstraße - Surroundings

Further Reading

Official Website on the Wien Museum

Vienna Board of Tourism on the Wien Museum