The Sound of Music Tour
This is picturesque lakeside view in Schloss Leopoldskron. I could stare at this landscape for hours at a time. Wouldn't you?
If you are a Filipino, born during the late 60s, 70s or early 80s, and your family is anything like mine, then my guess is that you too grew up watching the classic, all-time favorite, family-friendly movie, The Sound of Music. Even before my family and I lived in Austria, I've watched the film a number of times and pretended to be Gretl, slowly inching her way up the stairs just like she did in the final scene of ‘So Long, Farewell.' My mom, along with my cousin and I visited Salzburg and even saw the iconic Nonnberg Abbey, the convent in which both the Hollywood Maria as well as the real Maria von Trapp hailed from. I'll never forget that moment ... as I entered the church, I heard the nuns sing; they seemed to be in the middle of a choral practice or worship service, much like in the first scene in the movie -- I immediately had goosebumps! I was in complete reverence ... it was as if I was given a personal concert by the Benedictine Sisters, with the sound of their voices resonating throughout the church. That moment was, by far, one of THE most enduring experiences I've has as a child, one that I will cherish all my life!
As my husband and I planned my Austrian homecoming after almost three decades, I knew that Salzburg would not be missed -- because like me, my husband grew up watching The Sound of Music -- and loved it! There was something about the movie that reflected the genre and culture of the time -- an almost bygone era where life was slower, less complicated -- without the distraction of electronic devices ... and everything else in between.
The Sound of Music is an exceptional movie for my husband and I; it reminded us both of our youth in two very different ways. For me, the film was much like my childhood but in reverse – I left the Philippines to go to Austria while the von Trapps left Austria for America. For Alex, there was something about the gazebo scene with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer that made a lasting impression ... it still lingers on to this very day (Somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good).
Back in the 80s, little was known of the places where the von Trapp children went gallivanting with Maria in the streets of Salzburg. There were no such things as specialty tours on the Sound of Music. Not that those sights weren't beautiful or interesting enough to visit on their own, but mainly because the Austrians themselves knew nothing of the Hollywood movie. It's hard to believe that even the locals in Austria themselves would ask, "Welches film über Salzburg ist das, The Sound of Music? Warum hab ich das noch nie gehört"? ("Which movie about Salzburg is that, The Sound of Music"? Why haven't I ever heard of it"?). It's funny to hear that Austrians have never even seen or heard of the movie when people halfway around the world considered it a cult classic. Lucky for us today, the Sound of Music craze has finally hit Austrian shores. Now, several websites offer guided tours on the movie such as this one.
Once again, we took on the services of Michael Muhr from the Salzburg Experience. She too offered a tour that focused solely on the movie, and since we already touched on the old city highlights that also happened to be movie locations, we drove off to the countryside surrounding Salzburg to see other movie locations up close.
First up was the villa of the von Trapp, not the movie version; instead, the original dwelling of the von Trapp, which was later, converted into a hotel, aptly called the Hotel Villa Trapp. Sound of Music junkies can have the pleasure of spending a night or two in the midst of the original family residence. At any rate, if staying there isn't your thing, you can always opt to book a guided tour of the place and learn more about the story behind the real Trapp family.
The Hotel Villa Trapp holds one-of-a-kind mementos, from photos to personal items that were once owned by the renowned family.
I was agape to find out that not a single portion of the existing Villa Trapp was ever shot for the movie. Michaela later explained that the Captain's residence in the film was sewn in together using three different locations. She added, "The interiors of the house were done in a Hollywood studio; the exterior of the house was a women's dormitory called Schloss Fronberg, and the backyard lake scene was in a separate, more private, palace residence that was later converted into a hotel called Schloss Leopoldskron." Michaela also noted that the famous gazebo had initially been within the private property of the area mentioned above. However, as the movie gained in popularity throughout the years, it was transferred to the more public Hellbrunn Park as Sound of Music aficionados started to flock in, trying to break into the private property for a glimpse of the famed gazebo. It seemed that the magic of Hollywood just pieced them all together and made all of us (or maybe it was just me?) believe that they were shot in one single place.
Schloss Fronberg became the imposing front exterior of the Captain von Trapp's residence in the movie. Aside from being a dormitory before, today, it is part of the University Mozarteum.
It goes without saying that we headed off to the Hellbrunn Palace grounds and take a picture of that well-known gazebo and stroll around the park. Alex and I had another agenda in mind, of course; aside from capturing the famed structure, we were determined to fulfill our dream of re-enacting the evening scene of Maria and the Captain. It was a mission we had to complete.
This highly romanticized gazebo has seen it's fair share of break-ins with couples dancing inside, much like the scene in "Sixteen going on Seventeen" all the while causing some damage over the years. Because of this, the structure has been sealed shut to preserve its beauty and continued admiration. Hollywood trivia: The gazebo had to be re-created on a larger scale to accommodate Liesl and Rolf's dance routine.
Mission accomplished! We may not be anything like Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, but hey, it's been on our Bucket List for years, and now we've finally ticked it off!
After that, we were en route to the Salzburg Lake District. Our first stop was an overview of the lakeside town of St. Gilgen, the idyllic backdrop at the beginning of the movie that showcased the stunning landscape of the Salzkammergut Region. This picturesque village had all but lost its charm throughout the years as we leisurely walked around this quaint little town.
Behind me is the country setting of St. Gilgen, a place that can also be seen as one of the many backdrops in the Sound of Music.
One of the beautiful buildings that surround the town square of St. Gilgen with a monument of a young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart front and center.
A while later, we proceeded to Mondsee, another lakeside village where the wedding scene of the Sound of Music was filmed. As the movie made us believe, the Captain and Maria were wed at the very same convent, the Nonnberg Abbey amongst the very same Sisters where Maria once belonged. The scene starts with Maria, dressed in her wedding dress crossing the cobbled stone floor towards the main church, before bidding the nuns goodbye. In reality, the Nonnberg church is indeed where the real wedding of the Captain and Maria took place; however, the drama for the wedding set needed a bigger space that called for a more grandiose venue. St. Michael's Basilica at Mondsee perfectly suited this requirement as it stands proudly over the town. The design of St. Michael's Basilica isn't purely Gothic, rather, it is a mix of different style elements that everyone can appreciate. Visitors enter from the side of the basilica where you are immediately greeted by a souvenir shop filled with Sound of Music memorabilia as well as other religious pieces. Here, mementos and other novelty items can be purchased for yourself or for your loved ones back home. We lingered there for a bit and explored the grounds surrounding St. Michael's.
The imposing yellow twin towers that beckons one to enter its premises.
Did you know that nestled inside the intricate design of the altar at St. Michael's Basilica are actual remains of martys and saints?
Joining us in our Sound of Music Tour was Alex's brother George and wife, Vida as we were all smiles in front of St. Michael's with our excellent guide, Michaela Muhr.
As the final leg of the tour neared its end, we headed off with our car to Salzburg once again and explore the Mirabell Palace and Gardens. It was here that the iconic last scene of the song, ‘Do, Re, Mi’ was performed by Maria and children by the stairs. The gardens of the Palace were beautiful. It is such a lovely place to linger in, for some quiet time and to watch other people walk by.
Sing it with me, "Do - A deer, a female deer . . . "
Me trying to mimic the von Trapp children and patting the head of this white Untersberger marble dwarf in the Dwarf Garden.
This is the Grand Fountain that represents the four elements: Fire, Air, Earth and Water by Ottavio Mosto.
Sound of Music fans standing on The Pegasus Fountain by Kaspar Gras.
"So - A needle pulling thread . . . "
Christopher Plummer called Hotel Bristol home during the filming of the Sound of Music.
Happy but exhausted, Alex and I proceeded to Schloss Leopoldskron for the night. Schloss Leopoldskron was the former manor house of the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, Leopold Anton Freiherr von Firmian, later given as a gift to his nephew, Count Laktanz Firmian. Generous, don't you think? This majestic home is now a hotel that boasts of the picturesque mountain lake backdrop, used as the beautiful backyard of the Trapp residence. Unfortunately, fans of the movie can only glimpse the manor from the other side of the lake as the property only allows hotel guests to roam freely within its enclosure.
The beautiful Schloss Leopoldskron. It's not hard to fall in love with this place.
Being such aficionados of the movie, Alex and I wanted to indulge in the complete Sound of Music experience and stayed nowhere else, but the Sound of Music Room at the Meierhof Building, which was adjacent to the main Schloss. We got there just in time and walked through the grounds and lingered by the lakeside while savoring the display of colors brought about by the setting sun. An entire day dedicated to the Sound of Music was a panoramic experience that enabled Alex and I to look back on the childhood days and relive fond memories that delighted us in the movie. Tired but happy, my husband and I snuggled under the sheets in our sleepwear, recalling the day's events, and talking about our ‘Favorite Things.'
One of the unique decorative wall hangings inside our Sound of Music Room. Inside the wooden frame are movie treasures such the fabric of the children's "play clothes" and an Edelweiss flower.
How about you? Would you be interested in going on a Sound of Music Tour? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
