Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Austria’s Salzburg to walk in the legendary footsteps of the Von Trapp family. Even today, “The Sound of Music,” which was filmed in 1965, remains one of the most beloved and famous musical films.
Are you a fan of the movie The Sound of Music, wondering where the filming locations are? Well, you’ve come to the right place. From the gazebo where Liesl sings “16 Going on 17” to the Abbey where Maria lived and got married, all the must-visit filming locations for The Sound of Music are here.
This Authentic Sound of Music tour from Salzburg will not fail to impress with an English-speaking tour guide, and melodies from the soundtrack resonating throughout the excursion. Experience once again the iconic settings of several beloved Sound of Music sites in Salzburg, including Leopoldskron Palace, Nonnberg Abbey, and Mirabell Gardens, on a meticulously guided Sound of Music tour.
4. Residence Square & Fountain
The Residenzplatz, known as Residence Square in English, houses the biggest baroque fountain outside of Italy, standing at a height of 45 feet. It is located in the heart of Salzburg’s historic town. Within the fountain, Maria joyfully plays with the water as she sings “I Have Confidence in Me”. In a later scene of the film, the Nazi soldiers parade through the square and hoist their flag above the old Residence Palace’s entrance.
10. Villa Trapp
We have grown fond of the iconic Von Trapp family, and a visit to the Von Trapp Villa would provide fans with a genuine understanding of their lives. Situated not far from Leopoldskron Palace, the Von Trapp Villa serves as both a hotel and an educational museum dedicated to the real Von Trapp family, offering exclusive insights into the making of the movie. Just before the Austrian borders closed, they managed to board a train at the nearby station in order to escape the Nazis. Although not featured in the film, the Von Trapp Villa served as the actual residence for the Von Trapp family for 15 years.
Fans can choose to either book a stay at the Villa or simply visit on a guided tour, which lasts about 45 minutes and takes place every day.
11. Mount Untersberg
Salzburg offers breathtaking views from the top of Untersberg Mt., Which stands at 1,853 meters above the basin of Salzburg. Adventurous travelers can hike to the top in a 2-hour journey, or they can easily access Untersberg Mount via car or cable car from Salzburg. Fans of “The Sound of Music” will recognize this mountain as the backdrop for the opening scene where Maria sings “The Hills Are Alive.” It is also the setting for the iconic song “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” during the movie.
6. Rock Riding School
Fans will recognize this scene from “The Sound of Music” where Captain sings “Edelweiss” and his family joins him on stage to sing “So Long, Farewell”. The venue where this famous concert is held today is the Felsenreitschule, initially built as a riding school but later repurposed into a cathedral, carved into the Mönchsberg. The Von Trapp family, who won the Salzburg Music Festival in 1936, is from Salzburg, the location where the festival was held.
13. St. Gilgen
The village of St. Gilgen and the popular lake, Wolfgangsee, can be easily accessed by train, offering a stunning panoramic view of the village and the lake in the movie’s opening scene.
1. Nonnberg Abbey
Trapps Von, the hunting Nazi, visited the abbey with her kids. Maria left the abbey, singing “Maria” in the courtyard, where scenes from the movie were filmed. Four scenes were filmed at Nonnberg, where Maria became a real-life nun novice and got married to Georg von Trapp. Nonnberg Abbey is the oldest female convent in the north Alps, known as Nonnberg Stift in German. It was founded in A.D. 714.
Within the stunning Gothic abbey, guests will observe that the inside of the Abbey differs from the film, as shooting within the monastery was prohibited, hence the interior scenes were filmed in a Hollywood studio. One of the main attractions of this Salzburg location from the Sound of Music is the opportunity to listen to the resident nuns’ Gregorian chants in Latin at 6:45 in the morning.
9. Leopoldskron Palace
The interior scenes of the Hollywood movie were filmed in the rebuilt foyer and ballroom of the Venetian gold palace. However, the mansion’s interior was never used for filming. The terrace is where Max, Uncle Captain, and the kids fall off the boat into the lake, and where Maria is seen drinking pink lemonade. This location served as the primary backdrop for all the terrace and lake scenes of the Von Trapp family’s home in the movie. The Palace Leopoldskron, with its majestic palace and perfect view of the lake, is one of the most important filming locations for the movie “The Sound of Music.”
Today, the palace is a boutique hotel. The only way to experience the ultimate Music of Sound is by staying overnight, as it is the closest location to visit the filming of the family Von Trapp’s home in the film. You can book your stay here at Leopoldskron palace.
From the west side of the lake, you can still view the Palace if you choose not to stay at the hotel.
7. Frohnburg Palace
The movie also featured scenes during the family’s attempt to escape from the Nazis, where they silently push their car out of the gate. In addition, the movie also showcased the flag of the Nazis being ripped by Captain von Trapp above the doorway of the Palace. Towards the end of the song “Confidence” in the movie, Maria first sets her eyes on the large iron gate and facade of the Von Trapp family’s home. The Palace Frohnburg, which is now the Academy of Music, once served as one of the filming locations for the Music of Sound, playing an important role.
12. Collegiate Church in Mondsee
Enjoy delectable seafood and explore the adjacent woodland while traversing the lakeside. Indulge in a rejuvenating swim in the lake and leisurely wander through the charming town. Dedicate an entire day to this destination, as it is highly recommended for enthusiasts of The Sound of Music. In the film, Maria and Georg von Trapp tied the knot at the stunning Collegiate Church of St. Michael. Within a convenient hour-long bus ride from Salzburg, you can discover the enchanting lakeside town of Mondsee.
5. Horse Pond
The picturesque pond situated below the bright fresco of the horse behind the cliff on the side of Mönchsberg adds to the album tour’s music of sound. It is well worth a visit to the Horse Pond, especially since it is featured in the musical and serves as a backdrop for Maria and the children singing and dancing to their favorite song “My Favorite Things.” The Horse Pond was built in the 17th century and its curtains were made from clothes.
3. Mirabell Palace and Gardens
The iconic song, “Do Re, Mi,” was partially filmed here. There are plenty of chances to recreate scenes from the movies, as the garden built by Dietrich Wolf, the archbishop’s mistress, in 1606, is beautifully landscaped with marble statues, stunning flowers, and elegant fountains in the baroque style.
You can visit a location spot which can be visited for free, where you should not miss. While admiring the breathtaking view of Fortress Hohensalzburg from a distance, you can also relive the scene of Von Trapp kids dancing around the Pegasus Fountain and Maria jumping up and down the steps, as well as running through the maze-like hedge tunnel. This can be done while visiting the gardens of Mirabell.
2. St. Peter’s Cemetery & Catacombs
“Uncle Max” from the film, Max Detweiler, also serves as the final resting place for Nannerl, Mozart’s sister. Towards the conclusion of the movie, the Von Trapps find refuge from the Nazis behind the tombstones in a scene where the cemetery was reconstructed on set, drawing inspiration from the charming and flower-adorned St. Peter’s Cemetery (German: Petersfriedhof).
During your tour of Salzburg, you should definitely visit the stunning cemetery that overlooks the beautiful Mönchsberg rocks. The catacombs, carved out of the rocks, provide a breathtaking view. This cemetery is not only the oldest Christian cemetery in Salzburg, but also one of the most beautiful and unique cemeteries in the world (and the oldest one).
8. Hellbrunn Palace
Visitors are free to dance, sing, and capture as many photos as they desire in the surrounding area. However, they are not permitted to enter the gazebo. This is the spot where the Captain and Maria further deepen their love for one another while singing “Something Good”. Additionally, Liesl receives her first kiss in this very location while singing “16 going on 17”. It is here that the most romantic scenes of the Sound of Music were filmed. The Sound of Music gazebo can be found at Hellbrunn Palace, just a short distance from the city center.
Exploring the inside of this palace will be a memorable experience, as it allows you to walk through fountains filled with trickling water and ponds, and takes you on a long hour tour through grottoes. To make your visit to Hellbrunn even more thrilling, consider taking a tour of the trick fountains.
Sound of Music Filming Locations
Admire the stunning settings for the Sound of Music and sing while strolling the streets of Salzburg.
14. Picnic Meadow in Werfen
You can enjoy a breathtaking view and have a picnic at the top of Fortress Hohenwerfen and the surrounding areas. The hike from the town of Werfen takes about an hour and a half, and it is a short 1.4km hike up the Gschwandtanger steps. If you want to retrace the steps of Von Trapp’s “Sound of Music Trail” and have a picnic on the hills, you can do that too.
Your itinerary for Salzburg will be a delightful inclusion of two attractions, namely the Hohenwerfen Fortress and the Eisriesenwelt, the world’s largest ice cave. This will transform your visit to Werfen into an exciting day-long expedition.
15. Rossfeld Mountain
It is recommended to visit the nearby Mountain Untersberg, as accessibility is made easier with the spectacular views. The location of the filming is only on the Panoramic Rossfeld Road, which can be difficult to reach without a car. The Panoramic Rossfeld Road, situated just across the German border, is the magnificent mountain atop which the safe escape of the Von Trapp family was shown in the movie.
If you don’t want to deal with the hassle or limited time, consider taking a guided tour of Vienna or Salzburg to experience the music of Sound. Alternatively, you can visit all the locations on your own. If you are in Salzburg, it is a must-visit top location for filming Music of Sound.
You will have an extraordinary and amazing trip either at the real home of the Von Trapp family, Trapp Villa, or at Leopoldskron Schloss Hotel, which was featured in the film. Make your trip even more memorable by spending two nights in the home of the Von Trapp family, and create the music of Sound of Music.