11 Sound of Music Filming Locations in Austria

The sound of music made Salzburg and its surroundings famous all over the world. More than 300,000 fans come to Austria each year to follow in the footsteps of the legendary von Trapp family. Filming for the film with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer in 1964 was scheduled for six weeks, but was extended to 11 thanks to the infamous Salzburg rain. Explore the original movie locations with our guide, most of them walkable from central Salzburg.

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Mirabell Palace and Gardens, Salzburg

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+43 662 80720

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“Do Re Mi” is one of the most popular songs on The Sound of Music and its finale was filmed in the Mirabell Palace Gardens in the old town of Salzburg. Built in 1606 by Prince Archbishop Wolf Dietrich for his mistress, today it is a much loved wedding venue. In the film, Maria and von Trapp’s children dance around the Pegasus Fountain in front of the palace. You will also recognize the steps leading to a rose garden north of the Fountain and the Greek fencing statutes at the entrance. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Hohensalzburg Fortress. Entrance is free.

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Residenzplatz Square and Fountain, Salzburg

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+43 662 889870

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Residenzplatz Square in Salzburg’s Old Town is one of five squares built under Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau in the 16th century, and appears several times in the film. During «I have confidence in me», Maria splashes in the fountain of the baroque horse. Later, when Germany annexed Austria in March 1938, Nazi soldiers march through the square and a giant swastika flag is raised over the entrance to the Palace of the Former Residence.

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Summer Riding School (Felsenreitschule), Salzburg

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+43 662 849097

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Built on the Mönchsberg almost 400 years ago, the Riding School has been used as a concert hall since 1926. At The Sound of Music , von Trapps took the stage for the Folk Festival, presenting “Edelweiss” and “Goodbye. Hundreds of locals were hired as extras to sing. You can book a theater visit to get in or buy tickets for a show. In real life, the von Trapp family never performed at the festival, instead winning the Salzburg Music Festival in 1936.

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Horse Pond (Pferdeschwemme), Salzburg

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Around the corner from the riding school, in Herbert von Karajan Square, you will find the horse pond where Maria and the children dance during the finale of ‘My Favorite Things’. It was built in the early 17th century and was originally used to wash the horses of the prince archbishops. It features eye-catching frescoes and the huge statue of the ‘horse trainer’.

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St. Peter’s Cemetery and Catacombs, Salzburg

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+43 662 8445760

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San Pedro is one of the oldest (and most beautiful) cemeteries in the world, dating back to 700 AD. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s sister Nannerl found her final resting place here among many other well-known Austrians. In the movie, the von Trapp family hides behind the graves of the Nazis. While the scenes were not filmed in Salzburg, fans will recognize all the carefully reconstructed little details on the Hollywood set. The cemetery is open every day from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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Leopoldskron Palace, Salzburg

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+43 662 839830

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The lake terrace scenes at the von Trapp family home were filmed in the baroque Leopoldskron Palace dating back to 1736. This is where the Captain first hears his sons sing, where they drink pink lemonade, and Maria se falls from the boat. The golden ballroom and lobby of the palace were reconstructed in Hollywood for interior scenes. Leopoldskron is a 25-minute walk or bus ride from the city center. Today it operates as a boutique hotel and the entrance is for guests only, however the palace can still be seen from the west side of the lake.

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Puppet Theater, Salzburg

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+43 662 872406

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Do you remember the famous song “Lonely Goatherd”? The scene was inspired by the Salzburg puppet theater. The local ensemble was asked to act in the film, but had other duties at the time, so American puppeteer Bill Baird and his wife Cora Eisenberg chimed in. There are no public theater tours, but they have afternoon and evening shows almost every day. There is also a puppet version of The Sound of Music that takes place several times a year.

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The pavilion of the sound of music, Salzburg

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+43 662 8203720

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Oh how romantic! At this vantage point, Liesl sings “16 Passing 17” and the Captain and Maria fall madly in love when they sing “Something Good.” There are two versions of the pavilion: the one you see today near the eastern entrance to Hellbrunn Palace and a larger reconstructed one in Hollywood, where most of the scenes were filmed. Visitors cannot enter the lookout, but can take pictures from outside. Unlike the palace, access to the pavilion is free.

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09
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Nonnberg Abbey Convent, Salzburg

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+43 662 841607

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The convent dating from 714 AD became known as the home of the novice nun Maria. Four scenes of the musical were filmed in the building overlooking Salzburg: Mary leaving the abbey to care for von Trapp’s children wondering “What will this day be like?”, The nuns talking about her, the children visiting, and the Nazis hunting. to von Trapps. Shooting was not allowed inside the convent, so the configuration of the interior scenes was reconstructed in a Hollywood studio. Real life Maria lived in the convent for two years. The church in the place where he was married is open every day from 6:45 am

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St. Michael’s Basilica, Mondsee

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+43 6232 4166

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Less than 20 minutes by car or 50 minutes by bus from Salzburg is the picturesque lakeside town of Mondsee. In the city center you will find the late Gothic Collegiate Church of San Miguel, where Maria and Georg von Trapp were married. The bright yellow cathedral with its distinctive pink interior is a must-see for fans. The wedding was the first scene to be shot in April 1964, and it is one of the most famous in the entire film. Thanks to The Sound of Music, the site attracts more than 250,000 visitors a year. Entrance is free.

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Picnic Meadow, Throwing

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+43 512 5788225

Another filming location outside the city of Salzburg is Werfen, about a 40-minute drive or 45-minute train ride south. Since 2015, a “Sound of Music Trail” takes you from the village to the Gschwandtanger meadow in about half an hour. The location is best known for the picnic scene where Maria taught the children the lyrics to “Do Re Mi.” Bring snacks, sit on the grass like the von Trapps, and enjoy views of Hohenwerfen Castle.