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In Salzburg, Austria, last spring, I jumped around the fountain outside Mirabell Palace.
Others did too.
Some 60 years earlier, Maria and the von Trapp children danced around the palace’s Pegasus Fountain, singing “Do-Re-Mi,” one of the most famous songs from “The Sound of Music.”
the movie tells the story of the von Trapp family and the novice nun Maria, who acts as governess to the seven children and later (spoiler alert) marries their father only to have to flee the Nazi regime after the annexation of Austria.
Salzburg’s plans to celebrate the beloved musical
The film, starring Julie Andrews, was released in March 1965. To commemorate the film’s 60th anniversary, the city is celebrating with themed tours and events throughout the year.
The Pegasus Fountain, outside the Mirabell Palace in Salzburg.
Loop Images | Universal Image Group | fake images
Starting February 6, the Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron (Leopoldskron Palace) will host an exhibition of items related to the real von trapp family, as well as memorabilia and photographs from the film.
a new audio guide appWith stories from the filming told by Nicholas Hammond, who played Friedrich von Trapp in the film, it will guide visitors on a trail around the town of Werfen, where the picnic scene was filmed.
Throughout the year, the Salzburg Puppet Theater will broadcast “The Lonely Goatherd,“ like the kids do in the movie, getting special shows.
The UNESCO-recognized Salzburg Puppet Theater opened in 1913.
Joe Klamar | AFP | fake images
If you love the dirndl dresses the women wore in the film, the Salzburger Heimatwerk, In a traditional shop at 9 Residenzplatz, a special anniversary costume is designed to celebrate the film and a unique exhibition is organized.
An English-language symposium is planned for Oct. 23 to discuss the relevance and importance of “The Sound of Music” for Salzburg today, according to SalzburgerLand, the city’s tourism marketing organization. At the Felsenreitschule theater, the panel will include members of the original cast. In the evening, there will be a themed gala with original music and performances and, again, members of the cast will be in attendance.
Later this year, the Salzburg Theater will present the musical “The Sound of Music” in German with English subtitles. The performances are scheduled on selected dates in November and December.
Restaurants, such as Stiftskulinarium St. Peter — which claims to be the oldest restaurant in Europe — will offer special film-themed menus, featuring regional specialties.
A little late to the party, the “Sound of Music Museum” will open in Salzburg in 2026.
Cinema locations in Salzburg
Mirabell Gardens are one of the many filming locations that tourists can see in Salzburg. Just past the Pegasus Fountain is the somewhat strange Garden of the Dwarves, with 320-year-old sculptures of mischievous-looking dwarves, who had a cameo in the film.
To follow the film from the beginning, head to the former Benedictine Abbey of Nonnberg dating back to 714, where Mary struggled to become a nun. The cloister is located just below the Hohensalzburg Palace, which overlooks Salzburg. The views are stunning.
A woman sits in Nonnberg Abbey in Salzburg.
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Follow Mary’s path from the abbey and into the old town through the arches past Salzburg Cathedral to the Residenzplatz, where she splashed in the fountain before boarding a bus to von Trapp’s house on the outskirts from Salzburg.
Other locations within Salzburg include the Mozartsteg, the small bridge that Maria and the children cross while singing “My Favorite Things.” the market they visit on Kajetanerplatz, which still hosts a weekly farmers market every Friday.
One of the locations that appears later in the film is truly impressive. rock riding schoolthe theater where the von Trapps sing during the Salzburg Music Festival and which to this day hosts the annual festival.
St. Peter’s Cemetery, founded in the 7th century, remains a popular tourist attraction.
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After their performance, the family flees to a cemetery. St. Peter’s Abbey is listed as a filming location for the film, but scenes depicting its picturesque Saint Peter’s Cemetery They were mostly filmed on a recreated Hollywood set.
For a special treat, stay in Hotel Sacher Salzburg, where Julie Andrews stayed while filming the movie.
Seeing ‘the hill’
The hill that is filled with music (and featured in the opening scenes of the film) is in Germany, just across the border from Austria. The actual place is on private land and the owner reportedly doesn’t like tourists. Of course, there are public paths that run through the meadow and, if you are determined to see it, it is worth it following the mountain path to take a look.
It is easier to reach Untersberg, where Maria and the children had a picnic and which offers stunning views of the mountains and Salzburg. It is often included in “The Sound of Music” Tours, but if you want to do it alone, it’s a short 20-minute taxi ride.
And what about the von Trapp house? The original family villa is located in a secluded park at Traunstrasse 34. Once the true home of the von Trapp family, it was later converted into a hotel which has sadly since closed, and the gardens are also closed to the public. But you can walk around the outside of the compound and take a look at the real Villa Trapp.
Other towns near Salzburg
In the film, the house was much grander, even a palace: the Leopoldskron Palace on the shores of the lake of the same name. The house is shown in the opening credits and extensively throughout the film.
Leopoldskron Palace was used as the von Trapp family home in “The Sound of Music.”
Dea / W. Buss | By Agostini | fake images
Do you remember when Maria and all the children capsized their boat? The great palace, which dates back to 1736, starred together with the Fröhnburg Palace (now part of the Mozarteum University of Salzburg), for exterior and interior shots. And, as an added bonus, Leopoldskron Palace has been converted into a luxury hotel, so guests will be able to recognize some of the interior nooks from the film.
By the way, the original white music gazebo that the film’s frequent stars moved to Hellbrunn Palace.
The relocated von Trapp lookout is closed to the public.
Source: Prudence Andreia Goh
And finally, the wedding venue. Maria and Captain von Trapp were married in the beautiful St. Michael’s Basilica in Mondsee, which translates to Moon Lake. Mondsee is 30 km from Salzburg and can be reached in 40 minutes by bus line 140.
This charming little town is a great place to conclude your trip and stay for a day or two. The lake’s mountainous surroundings are perfect for settling down “The history of the Trapp family singers“, written by Maria von Trapp.
Can’t get to Salzburg?
When the von Trapp family fled war-torn Europe, they settled in Vermont. Today, the estate has been expanded and you can stay in the original. von Trapp Family Home in Stowe. The hotel, whose surroundings and decoration are the best after visiting Austria, is also full of the true history of the family.
The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, is just one of many U.S. theaters that will present “The Sound of Music” in 2025. The musical begins in September.and goes on tour in December.
