Bit of a "left-field" question, and no doubt a short-lived thread topic, but I was wondering about sanitation and heating in Vienna during Beethoven's time there.
I remember reading that Beethoven often spent his summers outside of Vienna because of the stench and dust. He was a privileged citizen in that respect.
Does that mean there was no sewage system at the time? For their morning "business", did they just throw it all out onto the streets or was there some sort of piping/canalisation to collect the "morning waste"? A septic tank in the foundations of each residential building? And for the heating: did each apartment have its own fireplace or was there some sort of communal "furnace" for the entire block during winter? I ask this as I'm reading the Beethoven conversation books and imagining Beethoven's everyday life, the sausages he ate, the beer he drank, and so on. I know we have a mixed bag of experts on this forum, are there any urban historians out there who could help? Thanks in advance.
I remember reading that Beethoven often spent his summers outside of Vienna because of the stench and dust. He was a privileged citizen in that respect.
Does that mean there was no sewage system at the time? For their morning "business", did they just throw it all out onto the streets or was there some sort of piping/canalisation to collect the "morning waste"? A septic tank in the foundations of each residential building? And for the heating: did each apartment have its own fireplace or was there some sort of communal "furnace" for the entire block during winter? I ask this as I'm reading the Beethoven conversation books and imagining Beethoven's everyday life, the sausages he ate, the beer he drank, and so on. I know we have a mixed bag of experts on this forum, are there any urban historians out there who could help? Thanks in advance.
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