Salzburg: the Home of 'The Sound of Music' and the first B&B

Come to Salzburg and discover this fantastic city

It was year 1965 and the movie, 'The Sound of Music', filmed in the picturesque landscapes around Salzburg became a great hit! The Sound of Music soundtrack is legendendary for everybody who loves musicals. The work was written and composed by Rogers and Hammerstein and has been performed almost 1500 times on Broadway before the movie was made. From there it won six Tony awards and sold more than 3 million records.

The movie, produced by Robert Wise, was nominated for 10 Oscars, 5 of them won: best film, best director, best sound recording, best script and best musical adaption. It was a huge success! For Julie Andrews, the leading actress, it was the beginning of her career. In one interview she said that she was pleased and proud to make so many people in the word happy.

How is it possible, that this movie, made in Austria's countryside and telling a simple family story, got so many fans from USA to Japan? Even Robert Wise was suprised to have this success. The musical based on the true story of a family from Salzburg. Maria von Kutschera, the protagonist, was living as a novice candidate at the Benedictine Convent on Nonnberg in Salzburg. Later she was sent as a governess to the house of Baron Georg von Trapp. He was living there after the death of his wife and Maria had to help him raise his children. Very soon she became the new housewife and had two daughters of their own too.

After the baron lost the money by stocks speculations, Maria and the children created a family choir in the early 30's. They undertook frequent public performances whilst they remained in Austria. They also made the first modern B&B as another means to save money offering rooms in their house to guests.

At the beginning of war, Georg von Trapp was invited to join the German Navy. In the same year the family emigrated to Vermont, USA. The family was continuing to do concert tours in the U.S. under the name 'Trapp Family Singers . Unfortuantely, at the age of 82 years, Maria von Trapp died in Morrisville.

'The Sound of Music' portrays this big and happy family, living with music. Maria's character, her power and energy still impresses and affects people from whole world. The beautiful nature and ambience of Salzburg makes for a perfect backdrop. Now visitors from all over the world have the opportunity to see the movie locations in the city of Salzburg, where the film 'The Sound of Music' was shot. Every year more then 300.000 fans come to Salzburg to follow Maria's footsteps.

Now, for your visit to Salzburg, here are the locations where the film was shot:

The Benedictine Convent on Nonnberg: It is here that nuns sing 'Maria'.

Mirabell Gardens and Mirabell Palace: Maria and the children sing 'Do-Re-Mi'

Residenz Square and Residenz Fountain: Maria crosses Residenz square in a bus on her way from Nonnberg Convent to the Trapp Villa singing 'I have confidence in me'

Felsenreitschule: Where the Trapp Family performed its farewell song and Baron von Trapp sang Edelweiss

St. Peter's Cemetery: It was here that the dramatic flight scenes were filmed.

Leopoldskron Palace: The façade facing the lake represented the von Trapp residence.

The Sound of Music Pavillon can be found at Hellbrunn Palace today, while in the movie it was still located at Leopoldskron Palace where one of the most famous and romantic scenes was filmed as well as the song, 'I am 16 going on 17'

Frohnburg Palace: The courtyard and main front area was used as a backdrop.

Other scenes were filmed outside of the city. For example, Anif Palace, Hohenwerfen Castles, Mondsee, Fuschl, St. Gilgen and Lake Wolfgang.

Come to Salzburg and discover this fantastic city. Do you need accommodation in Salzburg? If so, Hostelsclub offers a lot of cheap and nice hotels and budget hostels in Salzburg.

Enjoy your travel!