The Hills Are Alive: Filming Locations In Austria

The Sound of Music was filmed at various locations in and around Salzburg, Austria. The city was chosen as the location for the film in 1963, and shooting began in the spring of 1964. The film was based on the true story of Maria von Trapp, and many of the locations featured were inspired by the real-life story, including Nonnberg Abbey, where Maria lived as a novice before taking care of the Trapp children. The opening aerial shots of the film are of Salzburg's glorious Lake District, the Salzkammergut, and the movie features several castles and palaces in the area, including Leopoldskron Palace, Frohnburg Palace, and Mirabell Palace & Gardens.

The 'Villa Von Trapp' is a combination of two locations: Schloss Frohnburg and Schloss Leopoldskron

The Villa Von Trapp, the home of the famous musical family depicted in The Sound of Music, is a combination of two locations: the grand Schloss Frohnburg and the enormous 300-year-old Schloss Leopoldskron.

Schloss Frohnburg, a 17th-century Baroque country house, was used for the exterior shots of the villa. The facade, courtyard, and front gate of this former country house for the Prince-Archbishops were used for the Trapp Villa in the film. This is where Maria (Julie Andrews) first approaches the von Trapps after leaving the convent. The baron tears down the flag above the castle's doorway upon returning from his honeymoon and hearing about the German occupation of Austria. They also push their car quietly out of the castle's gate in their attempt to escape. Today, Schloss Frohnburg houses music students from the Mozarteum Music Academy.

Schloss Leopoldskron, a rococo palace and national historic monument in Leopoldskron-Moos, a southern district of Salzburg, Austria, was also used for exterior shots of the villa. The rear view of the palace was used for the Trapp family home. The family drank lemonade with the baroness on the terrace, and Maria and the Baron danced on the balcony during the ball scene. The Venetian Room from the castle was copied and used as the ballroom for interior scenes that were filmed in Los Angeles. Schloss Leopoldskron was also the location for the scene where the children fell into the adjacent lake.

The interior of the Villa Von Trapp was created at 20th Century Fox studios in Hollywood.

The Pegasus fountain and Mirabell Garden, where Maria and the children danced

The Pegasus fountain and Mirabell Garden are located in Salzburg, Austria. The Mirabell Garden is a good example of a typical Baroque park, with its characteristic, large, symmetrical flowerbeds. The garden was built in the 18th century following the plans of the famous architect Fischer von Erlach. The garden features countless statues inspired by Greek myths and is centred around a large fountain.

In the film, Maria and the children dance around the Pegasus fountain, singing "Do-Re-Mi". They also leap off the fountain before finishing the song on the musical steps. The stairs leading up to the rose hill were also part of the choreography.

The Mirabell Garden is one of the principal settings in the Hollywood musical The Sound of Music. The unique view through the garden to the Palace has become world-famous. The Mirabell Palace and Garden are among Salzburg's most popular attractions and are under a preservation order as part of the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Nonnberg Abbey, where Maria was a novice

Maria von Trapp, then Maria Kutschera, became a novice at Nonnberg Abbey in 1924. She was sent by her abbess to be a governess to the widowed Baron Georg Ritter von Trapp, to care for his seven children. Maria married the baron in 1927 and founded a family choir in the early 1930s. Their story served as the basis for the 1959 Broadway musical and 1965 film, The Sound of Music.

The abbey is now a protected monument and part of the Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The church and cemetery are open to the public, but the abbey itself cannot be visited. The nuns at Nonnberg Abbey sing Gregorian chants every morning at 6:45 a.m. in the abbey church.

Several scenes from The Sound of Music were filmed at Nonnberg Abbey, including the opening scene where the nuns go to mass and Maria returns too late, and the performance for the song "Maria", which was staged in the courtyard. The children came to the abbey's gate to ask Maria to return to their home, and the escape scene was also shot in the original spot. However, no interior shots of the abbey were included in the film.

The gazebo from 'Sixteen Going on Seventeen' was originally located at Leopoldskron Palace

The Sound of Music is a 1965 film adaptation of the true story of Maria von Trapp, directed by Robert Wise and starring Julie Andrews. It was filmed at various locations in and around Salzburg, Austria. One of the most important locations for the film was the rococo Schloss Leopoldskron, a national historic monument in the southern district of the city of Salzburg. The palace and its surrounding seven-hectare park are located on the lake Leopoldskroner Weiher.

The gazebo from the song "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" was originally located in the gardens of Leopoldskron Palace. The scene features the romantic interaction between Liesl and Rolf. The gazebo has since been relocated to the gardens of Hellbrunn Palace, outside the city, to make it accessible for visitors. The gazebo interiors were shot on a Hollywood sound stage, and only long shots of the Austrian gazebo are seen in the film.

Leopoldskron Palace was commissioned in 1736 by Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg Count Leopold Anton Eleutherius von Firmian as a family estate. It was built in the architectural style of Rococo, defined by opulence and heavy ornamentation. After the death of the Archbishop in 1744, the palace remained in the ownership of the Firmian family until 1837. During the 19th century, it had several different owners, including a banker, two waiters, and King Ludwig I of Bavaria.

In 1918, the palace was bought by the renowned theatre and film director Max Reinhardt, who worked with local artists and artisans to restore and expand the palace, which was in a state of disrepair. In 1938, however, the palace was confiscated from Reinhardt as "Jewish property". After World War II, the palace was returned to the Reinhardt family, and it was used to host the Salzburg Global Seminar. Since 1959, the palace has been owned by the Salzburg Global Seminar, which has made extensive renovations to enable its use as a conference centre and venue for events. Notable guests who have stayed at the palace-turned-hotel include Prince Charles, Bill Gates, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Hillary Clinton.

The wedding scene was filmed at Mondsee Cathedral

The wedding scene in 'The Sound of Music' was filmed at the beautiful Basilica of St. Michael in Mondsee, a short drive from Salzburg, Austria. The church is located in the heart of the town centre, right at the market square, and is a major tourist attraction. The basilica's two towers stand at an impressive 52 metres tall, and its bright, pastel colour scheme welcomes the thousands of tourists and parishioners who visit each year.

The history of the site on which the basilica now stands goes back over a thousand years. The original Mondsee Monastery was founded on the remains of a Roman settlement in 748 AD. The monastery played an important role in the region until it closed around 1792. The current church, built in the late-Gothic style, dates back to the 15th century and is the second-largest church in Upper Austria.

The wedding scene was one of the first to be shot for the film. In the scene, Maria, led by Liesl, walks down the aisle at St Michaels to meet the Baron in front of the main altar. The actors Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer took their vows as Maria and Baron von Trapp in the beautiful basilica.

The town of Mondsee is situated alongside the picturesque Lake Mondsee, otherwise known as Moon Lake. With a population of around 4,000 people, Mondsee is well worth a visit and is a popular overnight location for those exploring the region.

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