Robert and Clara Schumann lived in this apartment on Inselstraße from 1840 — the year of their marriage — until 1844, and it was one of the most productive periods of Robert's composing life. The Schumann-Haus is now a small museum dedicated to both composers, with original furniture, instruments, letters, and scores. Clara, a virtuoso pianist and major composer in her own right, was born in Leipzig in 1819.
The museum is intimate and carefully curated. You can sit at a replica of the couple's Viennese grand piano, listen to recordings, and follow their intertwined careers through the display. The house is less visited than the Bach Museum but rewarding — the story of two serious artists navigating marriage, career competition, and Robert's deteriorating mental health is told without sentimentality.