Berchtesgaden or Hallstatt Lake area for Sound of Music opening scene-like scenery?

carolyn,

This website might provide the information you need to make a decision.....

http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/s/soundmusic_1.html#.VVwz2KYmRRl

Hello Carolyn, we are in Berchtesgaden at the moment , having just spent the last few days driving around and came up from Hallstatt.( we stayed there for a few days) Hallstatt is a lake, beautiful ( overrun by tourists in the day) but I am not sure its what you are after?
to put it in context we have been up many mountains, driving and cable cars etc, so have seen our fair share of spectacular scenery, both last year and now, on some stunningly good days ( weather wise)
this week we visited eagles nest which was good as far as being high up and seeing out over the surrounding area, but the best time we really felt like we were julie andrews was when we drove up the Rossfeld panoramic road. we drove up from Berchtesgaden (you drive up past the Document center ( where you leave to go to eagles nest by bus) and then continue up ( it costs around 7 euro for two people in your car) we stopped pretty much at the top of the hill in a car park, walked across the road and into a small field/meadow, ( not at the 'designated' look out, as such) the views were spectacular ( generally looking over the area that is south of Salzburg) we were alone, the weather was great and gave you a good feeling, looking out you could see forever and the nearby mountain still has snow, some snow still underfoot and the lush green grass was fresh etc etc.

there are no doubt heaps of places around this area that you could experience this, but I hope this gives you some ideas.

Hi Carolyn - If you are thinking of the scene where Maria is twirling around in the meadows and singing "The Hills Are Alive", I believe that's actually some private property in a nondescript location outside of Salzburg... aka difficult to find. I am not sure where you could find a similar place, but I will say that I was just in both Hallstatt and Berchtesgaden last week and they are both phenomenally beautiful (although I didn't come upon any large meadows). I would go to Hallstatt if you want to relax in a beautiful little town on a lake, or Berchtesgaden if you'd like more of an Alpine experience.

"the opening and picnic scenes in The Sound of Music (i.e. meadows in front of mountains)."

The first part of the opening scenes in SOM are of Königssee in Berchtesgaden. Later opening scenes are of St. Wolfgang and St. Gilgin in the Salzkammergut. The picnic scene was shot near Werfen, Austria. The castle in the background was Hohenwerfen.

The opening scenes of Königssee were taken from high up on the Watzmann. Unless you are a mountain climber, you're not going to see that angle. You can see it from on high from the Jenner; there is a cable car.

You can see St. Wolfgang and the See (Lake) from high by going up the Schaffsbergbahn (cog railroad) out of St. Wolfgang.

Thanks everyone. Great info!