Danube-Networkers
Beethoven and the Danube
Text: Elfi Marek
In 1815 the Hungarian Countess Erdödy owned a villa in the small village Jedlesee, located on the left side of the Danube. At those times the river was not regulated but floated in numerous medanders. Today Jedlesee is a part of the 21 th District of Vienna.
The Countess was a true friend of Beethoven, who lived at the other side of the Danube in Nußdorf. Beethoven often visited the Countess; she loved music very much and organized concerts in her villa.
It was difficult to do the way from Nußdorf to Jedlesee by carriage. First you had to start to the centre of Vienna, continuing to the District of Leopoldstadt afterwards crossing three bridges over the Danube to arrive Jedlesee. On the other side of the river one had to go upstream till the traveller would arrive the villa.
One day the Countess sent a servant to Beethoven with a very friendly invitation formed as a poem offering him her coach. In her letter she called him the first composer after God and tried to tempt him to have a punch- bowl and exquisite food in her villa.
But Beethoven refused the carriage because this way to travel seemed him too long and tiresome. He answered the Countess with a funny play of words. He preferred to cross the Danube with a boat although this was more dangerous.
In a contempory report you may read: it took approximately seven minutes to reach the other bank. The ship's crew used long poles to move forward and upstream.Than they steered with the current to the other side.
The Countess ordered to establish a special door on the riverside of her garden only for Beethoven, so it was more comfortable for him to reach her house.
Today the villa is a Beethoven Memorial. There are still concerts in the house and Beethoven's melodies can be heard.
