Ludwig van Beethoven was a legendary composer who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of all time. In addition to his incredible musical talent, Beethoven also had a specific hobby that he enjoyed and was devoted to: walking and hiking in the forests!
Beethoven was an avid outdoorsman who loved to explore nature. He found solace in the wilderness and used it as a form of escape from the complexities of his everyday life. If not forests, at least a walk was part of his daily routine, even if the weather was bad. There is a recollection of him circling around in a park for hours, humming and composing in his head, in pouring rain…
During these walks, Beethoven was able to clear his mind and think more deeply about the music he was creating. He found inspiration in the beauty of nature and he emerged from these walks with new ideas and was filled with perfect happiness. He often listened to birds singing and used their songs in his compositions. He regarded nature, opposite to society, pure and perfect.
His walks in the woods allowed him to create some of the most iconic works of music in history. The Sixth Symphony of Beethoven for example, is written for and about nature, painting the feelings of a person spending a day outside in God’s perfect creation.
