The Sound Of Music's Salzburg Filming Locations

The Sound of Music, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, was filmed in Salzburg, Austria. The city was chosen as the filming location as early as 1963, and shooting began in the spring of 1964. The film was released in 1965, and since then, Salzburg has become a popular tourist destination for fans of the movie. The city welcomes visitors who want to walk in the footsteps of the von Trapp family, and most of the filming locations are accessible to the public.

The Pegasus fountain in Mirabell Gardens

The Pegasus fountain was featured in the film 'The Sound of Music', where Maria and the children dance around it while singing "Do-Re-Mi". The Mirabell Garden, with its characteristic symmetrical flowerbeds and statues inspired by Greek myths, is an example of a typical Baroque park. The garden was built in the 18th century following the plans of the famous architect Fischer von Erlach.

The Mirabell Palace, which is located next to the garden, also played a significant role in the film. The palace was originally built in 1606 by Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau for his mistress Salome Alt and their 15 children. Today, the palace houses the offices of the Salzburg mayor and the municipal administration. The Marmorsaal, or marble hall, is considered one of the finest wedding halls in the world and was once a performance venue for Leopold Mozart and his children, Wolfgang and Nannerl.

The Mirabell Garden and Pegasus Fountain are popular tourist destinations for fans of 'The Sound of Music', and they are included in the Original Sound of Music Tour®. This tour takes visitors to the various filming locations in Salzburg and provides insights into the filming process and the true story that inspired the movie.

Nonnberg Abbey

The abbey is located beneath Festungsberg hill and the ruins of the former Roman city of Juvavum. The first abbess was Saint Erentrudis of Salzburg, who was either a niece or sister of Bishop Rupert. Her tomb is in the crypt of the church, where her remains still remain. The abbey's endowment was provided by the Agilolfing duke Theodo of Bavaria and his successor, Theodbert. The abbey gained independence from the founding house in 987. The nuns, all of noble birth, held extended estates up the Salzach River to the south of the city.

While the exterior of the abbey was used in the film, the interior scenes were not. Visitors can explore the church, cemetery, and grounds, and enjoy the views of Salzburg from the mountainside. The church is open daily from 6:45 am, and visitors can listen to the nuns singing their morning Gregorian chants.

St. Peter's Cemetery

The small yet beautiful flower-filled cemetery inspired the filmmakers of The Sound of Music. It was recreated in Hollywood studios for the scene in which the von Trapp family hide behind tombstones from the Nazis, who are searching for them. St. Peter's Church can also be seen in the opening scene of the film.

Residence Square

In the film, Maria, the governess, crosses the square singing "I Have Confidence" on her way to the Trapp family home for the first time. She stops at the fountain to splash water at the horses. Later in the film, Nazi soldiers march through the square and hang their flag over the entrance of the old Residence Palace.

Hellbrunn Palace

The palace is known for its unique trick fountains and watergames, which were conceived by Markus Sittikus as a series of practical jokes to be played on guests. Visitors can experience the surprise jets of water, hidden fountains, and stone seats that spray water onto guests. Other features include a mechanical, water-operated, music-playing theatre with 200 automata, a grotto, and a crown pushed up and down by a water jet. The palace also stands in a large park with a neighbouring zoo, a stone theatre, and the Monatschlössl, or "little month-palace", built in just one month after a suggestion from a visitor.

Today, Hellbrunn Palace offers a variety of experiences for visitors, including audio guide tours of the trick fountains and palace exhibition, as well as a folklore museum located in the Monatsschlössl. The palace grounds feature spacious parks and gardens that provide a wonderful place to relax, walk, and enjoy outdoor activities.

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