It was then called “Zum roten Krebsen” (The Red Crab) and was situated in the Viennese suburb of Himmelpfortgrund. Here Schubert spent the first four and a half years of his childhood. The apartment of the large family consisted solely of one room and a “Rauchkuchl” (kitchen with open fire).
Today a large part of the top floor is dedicated to the memory of the composer. It presents an impressive documentation of his musical development, his family, circle of friends, and the important stages of his life. One of the rooms shows numerous portraits of the composer. But the item that frequently fascinates the public most is a seemingly unspectacular pair of spectacles belonging to the composer, which became the “trademark” of Schubert veneration.
The last time before his death in November 1828 Franz Schubert lived in the apartment of his brother Ferdinand in Kettenbrückengasse. In addition, Schubert’s end of life is reported in the musician’s apartment in Kettenbrückengasse. Here his last musical drafts, the last letter written by his own hand, as well as the caring efforts of his relatives in connection with his death, also manifested in written testimonies, are shown.
In both musician’s apartments, the visitor also has the opportunity to get to know Franz Schubert better through a whole series of sound samples.