InterRailing is for Seniors too! – Trip 8: Salzburg – Sound of Music tour

Barbara Mortnir the tour bus This 4 hour tour cost 35 euro and really is a must for Sound of Music fans. Our bus was just half full but it was full-on with enthusiasm. Our guide Barbara Mortnir is in her late 60s (or, as she sings to the famous tune – ‘I’m sixty going on seventy’) and has been guiding this tour for the past seven years and loves it as much now as when she started. The film is loosely based on the story of the von Trapp family’s escape from the Nazi and the tour visits both real life sites and film locations. But a word of warning, if you are obsessed by the film story you might not want to disillusion yourself with the truth as opposed to the Hollywood version of events. Our tour starts beside the beautiful Mirabell gardens in central Salzburg where Maria and the children dance and sing “Do-Re-Mi” around the Pegasus fountain and use the steps up to the Rose Hill as musical lines, singing a note for each step. Everyone on the bus had already seen the large Baroque fountain in Dom platz where Maria sings to boost her confidence before meeting the Baron von Trapp. Leopoldskron Palace The first stop is at Schloss Hellbrunn Palace Park where some house scenes were filmed and the gazebo where Rolf and Liesl sing “16 going on 17” has been relocated to. Fortunately just as we were leaving three packed tour buses of American, Chinese and Japanese tourists arrived which turned the little location into an absolute scrum. Next stop was the Palace Leopoldskron where the boating scene was filmed; Maria and the Baron dance on the balcony and sing “Something good”. Barbara regaled us with lots of insider information about the events surrounding this location. The next two film sequences did not involve a stop and they were the footbridge where the children sing and Nonnberg Abbey where Maria was a novice nun and several scenes were shot. St Gilgen and Lake Wolfgang All the scenes so far have been in or close to Salzburg. We next was a half hour drive to the village of St Gilgen and Lake Wolfgang which are surrounded by impressive mountains. It is a classic Austrian scene and was included in the films opening-scene. Our final destination was the small town of Mondsee (Moonlake) the film location for the wedding of Maria and the Baron at Basilica St Michael. Barbara provided a spoiler for some fans by explaining that in actual fact they got married in Nonnburg Abbey where Maria had been training to become a nun. Basilica St Michael Mondsee One of the most frequently asked questions was ‘where is the hill they climbed over in their final escape?’ The hill scene in the film is pure fantasy and actually would have taken them disastrously across the border into Germany. The von Trapp’s simply took a train to Italy and then later, onwards to Switzerland – another Hollywood embellishment to the story. The Sound of Music has become an incredible global phenomenon and Salzburg get 300,000 fans that follow Maria’s trail every year. The tour really is excellent for film lovers because, apart from visiting beautifully scenic countryside, the locations would be difficult to find without a guide and the snippets and gossip from a good guide are gold dust. For more information on the Sound of Music tour visit Salzburg Sightseeing Tours

Read more:

Read InterRailing is for Seniors too! – Trip 1: London to WarsawRead InterRailing is for Seniors too! – Trip 2: WarsawRead InterRailing is for Seniors too! – Trip 3: Warsaw to KrakowRead InterRailing is for Seniors too! – Trip 4: The night train to ViennaRead InterRailing is for Seniors too! – Trip 5: ViennaRead InterRailing is for Seniors too! – Trip 6: Vienna to SalzburgRead InterRailing is for Seniors too! – Trip 7: SalzburgRead InterRailing is for Seniors too! – Trip 9: Salzburg-Brussels-LondonRead about the benefits of the InterRail Pass and my top ten tips
165 people found this helpful
16696

Share Article:

Peter Lynch

Journalist, rail and wildlife specialist & contributor to Great Train Journeys of the World

Leave a comment

*

Sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest travel tips on top destinations.

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Most Recent Articles

There’s something refreshingly nostalgic about the quintessential British coach holiday….

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.