Der Badeplatz in Teplitz, um 1840 - Mit dem Monogramm R. bezeichnete Radierung

Apart from his hardness of hearing, Beethoven also suffered from various intestinal diseases during his whole life. For this reason, the composer travelled several times to different spas for treatments at health resorts, which were famous for its hot springs and its spa treatments like drinking the waters. In 1811 and 1812, he travelled to the Bohemian city of Teplitz (today it belongs to the Czech Republic) which was a famous city in whole Europe. This was where he met Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) in 1812, and it was also in the same year in Teplitz where he wrote his famous letter to the "Unsterbliche Geliebte" ("Immortal Beloved"). (S.B.)