Both the individuals and the museums range from the famous to the forgotten, from the magnificent to the merely curious. In a few cities, sparring curators tussle over the right to represent a favorite son: Vienna has no less than three "Beethoven Apartments."

But almost anywhere, you can find small, out-of-the-way houses in which the literary, musical, philosophical, and artistic geniuses of the past are honored. What follows is only a sampling, but perhaps you will find a favorite of your own among them.

Jane Austin’s House, Chawton, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 1SD Great Britain; open daily Apr-Oct, limited days Nov-Mar.

Johannes Brahams’ House Maximilianstra�e 85, D-7570 Baden Baden, Baden W�rtemberg, Germany; open Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun, and holidays; limited hours.

Mus�e Louis Braille, rue Louis-Braille, Coupvray, F-77450 Esbly, Seine  et-Marne, France; open daily except Tuesday, afternoons only October-March. � Bront� Parsonage Home of Emily, Anne, and Charlotte; Haworth, Keighley, West Yorkshire, BD22 8DR Great Britain; open daily except late January-early February and December 24-26; limited hours October-March..

Mus�e Jean Cocteau, Le Bastion, Vieux Port, F-06500 Menton, Alpes-Maritimes, France; open daily except Tuesdays; limited hours September-June; closed holidays.

Charles Darwin’s House (Down House), Luxted Road, Downe, Orpington, Kent, BR6 7JT Great Britain; open afternoons except Monday and Friday; closed February and Dec. 24-26.

Erasmus’ House 31 rue du Chapitre, B-1070 Brussels, Belgium; open daily except Tuesdays and Fridays; closes 2 hours for lunch.

Michael Faraday’s Laboratory, The Royal Institution, 21 Albemarle St, London W1X 4BS Great Britain; open Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.

Gutenberg Museum Liebfrauenplatz 5, D-6500 Mainz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany; open daily except Mon., public holidays, and during Mainz Carnival; limited hours Sunday.

Maison de Victor Hugo, 6 place des Vosges, F-75004 Paris,  France; open daily except Mondays, public holidays.

James Joyce Museum, Joyce Tower, Sandycove, Co.  Dublin, Ireland; open daily May to September; limited hours Sunday; October-April by appointment (01 809 265).

The Leonardiano Museum (Leonardo da Vinci), Castello dei Conti Guidi, I-50059 Vinci, Firenze, Italy; open daily except public holidays; closed 2� hours for lunch.

Joan Mire Foundation, Parc de Montjuec, 08004 Barcelona, Spain; open daily except Mondays and public holidays.