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The distance from Bonn to Vienna is about 550 miles. Today, travel would be relatively quick, about 1.5 hours by plane, about 8 to 9 hours by car. But Beethoven traveled by horse-drawn carriage so the trip would take about two weeks! This modern map shows Germany in relationship to Austria, although in Beethoven’s time the countries and borders would not look quite the same. But it gives you a general idea of what his route might have been.

Vienna is the capital city of Austria, on the Danube River. In Beethoven’s time Vienna was a center of culture and power. It had (and still has) many parks and elegant buildings. One of the most beautiful buildings is the Schönbrunn Palace, the main summer home of the Austrian Emperors. It has 1,441 rooms!

You might enjoy taking a virtual tour of the Schönbrunn Palace and see some of these rooms yourself!

Beethoven enjoyed dining and drinking in Vienna’s many cafes and coffee houses. He loved the sausages, fish, beer, and desserts like apple strudel. In Vienna apple strudel is still a famous dessert. They make it at the Schönbrunn Palace.
Watch their Strudel Show! (The baker switches between speaking in German and English. Just keep listening!)

Stories about famous people often become well- known. Sometimes they’re true. Sometimes not. Sometimes the story is basically true, but exaggerated.

There are many such stories about Beethoven. You can check these out for yourself!