The Gift That Is Salzburg, Austria
Janine has always been a true fan of the 1965 classic film, The Sound of Music. Since the age of three, she’s been able to recite all 2 hours and 54 minutes. Her favorite scenes in the film being the ones starring her crown jewel, Julie Andrews.
So it was a no-brainer when Janine spotted a £7 ticket flying from Athens, Greece to Vienna, Austria. She knew that with just a short train ride from Vienna, this would be her chance. She would walk in the foot steps of both the real Maria von Trapp and her wholesome queen Julie, through the streets of Salzburg.
Like so many others, COVID-19 has really put a damper on my international travels. However, my daughter, Janine has been living in London for the past couple of years while completing her master’s degree. In Fall of 2021, she decided to take the opportunity to solo travel Europe for the first time!
So, without further ado, here’s Janine’s account of what to see and do. Most of all she shares what you cannot miss if you find yourself with a few days in Salzburg, Austria!
The Sound of Music fans – Come one, Come All!
Although I only had 3 days in Salzburg, I did my research to make sure I got my fill of food, history, and of course, the Sound of Music. So here’s how I did it:
Getting from Vienna to Salzburg by Train
I started my Austrian adventure in Vienna and took the 3-hour train ride from Vienna to Salzburg. This train ride cost me about $20. The train left the station right on time and the cars were clean. Overall the ride was very enjoyable, and I highly recommend it!
I made this trip in November of 2021, during the lull between the Delta and Omicron variant outbreaks. With that being said, I was able to enjoy the Christmas market and traditional Austrian holiday foods.
I can certainly say, my tour experience was not a typical one of those who’ve been during pre-COVID times.
My Pandemic Sound of Music Tour Experience
The Good:
My tour consisted of a total of 8 people (including our tour guide) it was a decent sized group. We got to know one another relatively well during our tour. Having smaller numbers made it really did feel like a private tour. I also felt that with a group this size we have much more time to stop and take pictures.
We were able to really take in all the sights and new locations. We were able to ask a lot more questions and the experience felt a lot more personalized.
In a strange turn of events, after getting to know the other people on my tour, I learned that out of the 7 of us, 5 of us, including myself were from Ohio! I thought it was pretty funny that of all the places in the world, 5 Ohioans ended up in a tour in the middle of Salzburg.
The Bad:
Since we had such a small group, it got pretty awkward at times. Like when the sing-along portion of the tour begins and you and the guide are the only one’s singing aloud to Do-Re-Me.
I imagine in a larger group setting, more people would feel less shy about singing out. But anyone that knows me, knows that I will sing anywhere, anytime and in anyway.
Especially when it comes to those Rodgers and Hammerstein classics!
A Few of My Favorite Things:
1. Staying overnight at the Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron
The Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron
The Schloss Leopoldskron is now a private property. And it is now affectionately called the “Sound of Music Palace”. All the lake scenes in the movie were filmed at this very location!
Usually I stay in hostels, but I decided to splurge and stayed one night in the “Sound of Music Palace.” For $130 for the night, I was able to walk around the property and take lots of pictures and video. Being able to walk around the property was a treat, since it was not included in the tour!
The next morning I had a wonderful breakfast spread in the Venetian Room on the first floor. This room was beautifully decorated with gold panels, art, and mirrors. This room was made to emulate the 1965 ballroom seen in the film.
I was told this room was also used for the marionette performance by the von Trapp children in The Lonely Goatherd scene.
2. Visiting the Nonnberg Abbey
This abbey is actually the oldest continuously existing nunnery in the German-speaking world.
The Nonnberg was the convent of the real-life Maria von Trapp during her time as a postulant studying to become a nun and was also used as a filming location in the actual movie.
The Sound of Music Tour
But let’s get into what you see and do on the actual Sound of Music Tour:
Mirabell Gardens and the Pegasus Fountain and Statues
You start the beginning of the tour at the Mirabell Gardens where many scenes from Do-Re-Me were filmed. You’ll find the steps where Julie sang the iconic final high note in Do-Re-Mi at the top of the stairs. Also you’ll see the Pegasus fountain that Julie and the children marched around.
Although the gardens looked a lot different in the fall than it did when these scenes were filmed, it only encouraged me to go on the tour again during the springtime when all the flowers are in full bloom!
The Gazebo
Next, you go to visit the epicenter of blossoming love throughout the film, the gazebo. You’ll learn that the gazebo has been moved from its original filming location. Originally the Gazebo was located at the Leopoldskron, but due to trespassers they relocated it for preservation purposes. We weren’t allowed inside of the gazebo, but seeing it in person was just as exciting for me!
St. Michael Basilica in Mondsee
After seeing a few of the filming locations right in the heart of Salzburg, the tour then takes you on a 20 minute ride to the town of Mondsee. In Mondsee you will find the basilica where the wedding scene was filmed in the movie. In reality, the real life Maria and Georg were wed right at the Nonnburg Abbey in Salzburg.
Seeing the inside of the basilica was definitely a major highlight of the tour for me. It was so beautifully preserved. And walking down the aisle felt exactly how I imagined it would feel to walk in Julie’s footsteps. The town of Mondsee, had its streets lined with colorful cafes and boutiques that had a charming feel.
Of all the locations that were visited on the tour, there were still places around Salzburg that weren’t on the tour and I didn’t have time to go see. But the following are some places you should definitely go and check out:
Felsenreitschule (Rock Riding School)
Felsenreitschule is a theatre and a venue of the Salzburg Festival. You will recognize it as being the theater where the von Trapp Family Singers did their final performance before escaping.
When I went to the theater, I walked around to see if I could find a way in, but I wasn’t able to. Next time, I would see if there were any performances at the Felsenreitschule that I’d be able to catch while I was visiting Salzburg.
The Villa Trapp
If you’re up for it, you are now able to spend a night in the Villa Trapp. In 2008, the home previously owned by and lived in by the family von Trapp was turned into a hotel where you can stay in the rooms of members from the actual von Trapp Family.
So long, Farewell, Aufwiedersehn…
As my time in Salzburg came to a close, I was very pleased with everything I was able to see right in Salzburg. The tour provided me with lots of fun facts about the film and the cast.
I learned so much about the history of Salzburg and Austria as a whole. I highly recommend the Official Sound of Music Tour or even just a visit to Salzburg.
And even if its not your favorite film, I promise you’ll have a great time in Salzburg, Austria!
If you’d like to see some of my highlights, be sure to check out this video of my time on The Sound of Music Tour!
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