Maria's Sound Of Music Bike Tour?

Regulars here know that I am not a big fan of any SOM tour (might be because I am a big fan of the movie and own the DVD and have listened to the accompanying commentary by director Robert Wise). Most everything in the movie was shot on sound stages in Hollywood (including interior shots of Frohnburg and the Abbey, and close up shots of the Gezebo) or is readily accessible (Maribell palace, the fortress, the Abbey outside, the Residenz, the square where she caught the bus) from Salzburg without a tour. The Frohnburg is a ways outside of town, but was only used for a few exterior shots.

I visited Salzburg once and saw many of those outdoor sites, and I took the bus (leaves from in front of the Hbf) to Mondsee to see the Basilica (wedding church).

Hellbrunn had nothing to do with the movie. The gazebo, which was moved there after the movie, was only used for distance shots.

Leopoldskron was not actually used in the movie. The patio was reproduced as a temporary set elsewhere on the lake.

If you just want to do a bike ride, is it worth the money to have a guide, or, with a little research, can you rent bikes and see those sites on your own, for less?

I am not familiar with this bike tour. I have, however, used a bike and biked to some the SOM sites. (I have also done one of the bus tours, and prefer biking to the sites) There is a nice trail (traffic free) that goes to Frohnberg castle (which was the front of the house). It is on the lane where Maria sang "I have Confidence" and the kids played in the trees. Biking further down that lane, you will come to Helbrunn palace where the Gazebo now rests. You can also bike to Leopldskron Castle (The back of the house). Frohnberg and Leopoldskron are not far outside of Salzburg. Helburnn is a bit of a ride, although the trail is flat and fairly easy going (my book says it is several kilometers from the city.) Also Leopoldskron is not on the path, you have to bike on some streets. The hardest part is getting out of the city. Going with a tour would certainly make finding all these sites easier. There are also several sites right in Salzburg that you can walk to. You don't get to see the church on Mondsee (which you would visit on a bus tour) and it is too far to ride. However, if you have a car, it is an easy drive to Mondsee. When I took the bus tour, we did not get to really see Frohnburg castle because it is not a street. The bus slowed down and we looked across a large field at where it is...yea couldn't see much. That was a disappointment and why I prefer biking.

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