My daughter and I are excitedly anticipating a visit to Salzburg this June and want to see as many actual and cinematic Sound of Music / von Trapp locations as possible. We are thrilled to be staying one night each at the von Trapp villa (in Agathe's room) and Shloss Leopoldskron (film's location for back of the house and lake scene). We aren't picky about the tour - and would just as soon it be a Hop-on-Hop-off bus tour, as long as we get to get off and make photos, not just whizz by. We are like Gary and (just from years of avid reading) know enough S.O.M. / von Trapp facts to lead our own tour. Any suggestions for how to get around to the sites?(don't suggest driving - that is not an option). Thanks all!
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19099 posts
I went to Mondsee in August on my way to Hallstatt. Bus 140 leaves periodically (mine left at 8:40) from the plaza in front of the Hauptbahnhof in Salzburg and the trip takes about 50 min. The fare was €5,60, one way.
The lake side patio scenes were not shot at Leopoldskron, but at a temporary set elsewhere on the lake, which was copied from the patio at Leopoldskon.
You might be interested in getting the DVD of SOM, the one with a commentary by SOM director Robt. Wise and listen to what he has to say about the filming, locations, etc. Most of the authentic venues from the movie can be visited without a tour, for free. Mirabelle Palace (Do-Re-Mi steps, arbor) is on the main street if you walk from the Hbf to the old town across the river.
Posted by
Everett, WA
1288 posts
Would biking be an option? My husband and I rode our bikes to the sites that were just outside Salzburg. They included Shloss Leopoldskron, The home that was used for the front of the house (it is right on a biking/ walking path and can't be driven to) and the gazebo. The gazebo is the farthest away. We did it with a map and the book about the SOM (every tourist shop sells them, a little paper back book, not too expensive) There is an organized bike tour that you can sign up for...we just did our own. We have lots of pictures of us with all the sites. We have been to Salzburg several times and our first trip we did a guided bus tour. While it was my least favorite, it did get you out into the countryside and to Mondsee where the church used in the wedding sits. You might consider doing a guided tour and then coming back to the sites by bike or bus that you want to see. (This is if you don't have car to get out into the coutryside..which is really pretty.) The bus tour cannot get you close to the house used as the front and they didn't even take us to Leopoldskron. Many sites are right in the heart of Salzburg and you can walk to them (certain fountains, bridges, nunnery, etc.) The tourist book was a big help. I am a big fan of SOM movie, but also have read all of Maria Von Trapp's book on the "real" story of her family. When we were in Stowe, we visited the Von Trapp Lodge. I think I am such a fan because as a child I was allowed to see 2 movies: SOM and Mary Poppins. It was a big deal: we were all dressed up and went to a very fancy movie theatre in downtown Seattle (I think it was called The Music Box) It was such and big deal a made a huge impression on me.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
Unless things have changed, the Schloss Leopoldskron is a pretty good hike from the nearest bus stop - you might have to take a taxi. I was a student in Salzburg and my school was in the Meierhof, which was the former carriage house for the Schloss right next door. I lived near the airport and the bus I took to get to school stopped roughly a mile away from the Schloss. That area is separated from the city by mountains.
During my semester there we had almost daily tourist buses coming to see both the Schloss (which was owned at the time by Harvard, and allowed no guests) and the movie's summerhouse, which was in our backyard. That was the original movie location for the external summerhouse scenes, though the dancing was filmed in a studio. The summerhouse has since been moved to Hellbrunn, I believe. The Meierhof also had copies of the statues at the "Do Re Mi" steps at Mirabell.
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
I took Bob's Special Tour which is in a small van. We were only 7 people plus guide. As already stated there was plenty of time out of the van. We even had time to do a luge run, which was great fun. This took a half day. So factor that in as you consider the public transport option. I suspect it's more efficient. I would say that the guide didn't try to foist dubious "facts" on it, but rather had a fun telling the mythology, while being clear about what really happened. Pam