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This year makes the 50th anniversary of The Sound of Music, a film that has captured the hearts of generations of Americans, as well as the rest of the world. The inspiring story of the von Trapp family begins in Austria, and any fan of the movie will enjoy the chance to visit some of the famed filming locales during the first few days of our new Walking Austria, Germany & the Czech Republic: A Bohemian Rhapsody tour. It’s an exciting time in Austria for the 50th anniversary of the movie—which was released in 1965—and exploring the film’s beautiful settings in both the historic city of Salzburg and the nearby Salzkammergut region—known for its towering peaks, verdant valleys and pristine alpine lakes—is a perfect destination to discover on foot. Whether you opt for the pre-trip extension in Salzburg, or even hop on tour in our first walking destination in St. Gilgen, here is some background on a few places you may recognize during your walking vacation.
Salzburg
VBT pre-extension and Air Package Plus travelers will have from 1 to 3 days in Salzburg—depending on your travel package—to begin the tour. Located in the heart of the historic Altstadt district of old Salzburg, our hotel is just a short walk from some of the filming locations. The Sound of Music begins in Salzburg, where Maria is a postulant who is living and studying at the Nonnberg Abbey before she is sent to the countryside to be the governess for Captain von Trapp’s children. You’ll be able to visit the Abbey, made famous in the “Maria” song scene, via a 10 minute walk along the Salzach river. Also within walking distance from our hotel are the Festival Hall, the gardens of Schloss Mirabell (where the “Do-Re-Mi” scene was filmed) and Residence Fountain.
If you’d like to venture further form our hotel by taxi or bus, you can find the famed gazebo from the “16 going on 17” scene at the Hellbrunn Palace, just a short ride from our hotel. The gazebo was once located at the Schloss Leopoldskron, an ornate Rococo palace on the shore of the Lake Leopoldskroner Weiher in Salzburg’s southern district. The exterior of the palace served as the von Trapp villa, although no scenes were filmed on location.
St. Gilgen am Wolfgangsee
Our walking tour begins in proper in the picturesque village of St. Gilgen am Wolfgangsee, where you may recognize this lovely lakeside locale which appears in one of the film’s opening shots. On day 4, we’ll get a great bird’s eye view of the region in which so many outdoor sequences were filmed when we take the Schafberbahn Steam Cog Train—a steam-powered locomotive in operation since 1893—up to the summit of 
Mount Schafberg. From the summit, you’ll take in the wonderful vistas of the Salkammergut Lake District during lunch. Be sure to ask your Trip Leaders to point out where some of the films outdoor scenes took place like Lake Wolfgang, Fuschl and Mondsee—a lakeside town whose bright yellow Abbey served as the wedding site of Maria and the Captain.
For more information on how to visit places where scenes were shot in Salzburg, click here.
Related Blog: Highlights of VBT’s Tours in the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany
To learn more about how you can visit this region on VBT’s Walking Austria, Germany & the Czech Republic: A Bohemian Rhapsody tour please click here. If you would like to reserve a vacation or speak with one of our Tour Consultants, please call 800-245-3868. They are available Monday-Friday from 8:30am to 6:30pm EST and Saturdays from 10:00am to 3:00pm EST.