Beethovenhalle (Beethoven Hall), Bonn

The Beethoven Hall is Bonn’s renowned concert venue dedicated to the musical legacy of its most famous resident, Ludwig van Beethoven. This is the third hall to bear his name-a tradition that began in 1845 with a temporary wooden structure, followed by a second version in 1870. Both predecessors succumbed to time and war, and today’s hall, completed in 1959, stands as a symbol of cultural renewal in post-war Germany.

Designed by Siegfried Wolske, a student of the architect Hans Scharoun, the hall’s modernist structure features a distinctive, wave-like copper dome rising 25 m above the Rhine promenade. Its asymmetrical interconnected cubes and sweeping 2,000 m² dome showcase innovative 1950s architecture fused with exceptional acoustics. Inside, the main auditorium seats approximately 1,980 guests, while smaller studio, chamber music, and lecture halls add versatility to the venue.

As the cultural heart of Beethoven Festival, the hall hosts both the opening and closing concerts of this prestigious annual festival, performed by the resident Beethoven Orchestra Bonn. Beyond classical recitals, the venue welcomes a diverse lineup of events-ranging from congresses and exhibitions to carnival celebrations.