Before I went to Salzburg, I knew that the city was famous for some of the Sound of Music filming locations. I did some Google searching to find out my options to visit these locations, and settled on a three hour bike tour. I’m not normally one to take a formal tour, but when there are bikes included I can be convinced. The tour turned out to be one of the best decisions I had made all month.
Most people take a bus tour, but I knew I wanted to ride a bike around Salzburg so this was the perfect activity for me. My group had eleven people consisting of mostly other Americans, some British folks, and a cute Australian guy. The tour took us to multiple filming locations, and through some of the outskirts of Salzburg. Getting out of the city center was so much fun, and the weather was absolute perfection.
Maria’s Abbey
The lake terrace scenes at the von Trapp’s family home were all shot at the baroque Leopoldskron Palace dating back to 1736.
The actual “16 going on 17” gazebo.
View of Untersberg Mountain – referenced in movie.
While riding through the outskirts of the city, we had a stereo playing songs from the movie. The wind was slightly blowing, the sun was out, and I couldn’t slap the smile off my face if I’d tried.
One of my favorite filming locations, which I visited multiple times while in Salzburg, was the Mirabell Palace and Gardens. The gardens at the palace are said to be among some of the most beautiful gardens in the world. I visited the gardens the previous day, as well as later that evening for a concert.
My only regret of this tour, was not being able to visit Werfen, aka the picnic meadow where they sang “Do Re Mi.“ This town is about a 40 minute train ride outside of Salzburg, so I plan to return to walk the “Sound of Music Trail” INTO the Austrian alps. Overall this was such a fun way to see the city and to see some of the filming locations. I wish I had watched the movie the night before (my hostel shows the film every night at 8p) but I’m an old lady and need my sleep.
After the bike tour I lost my morals and grabbed a Salzburg Pretzel, which was basically a pastry in the shape of a pretzel covered in chocolate. The pretzel was the size of my face…twice. It was intense. I chomped on my sins as I walked towards Mozarts Geburtshaus, aka Mozarts birthplace. It only made sense to stand in the room where Mozart was born, before listening to his music at a concert in Mirabell Palace later that evening.
As regular readers know, I’ve made it a priority to see a classical concert in each new country I visit while living in Europe, and Salzburg was no exception.
“In this room Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27, 1756.”
I stood in the birth room for a full five minutes soaking in the music playing through the speakers. It was a surreal moment to stand in this room. Regardless of whether you’re a fan of his music or not, Mozart was a huge influence on classical music. His talents will live on forever. Sorry, I think the sugar rush from the pretzel was seeping through my fingers as I typed that.
After I visited Mozarts birthplace, I made sure to walk past the house the Mozart family moved to next. I didn’t feel the need to go inside, and I started to feel the effects of the pretzel and the Mozartkugel I had eaten and needed a small break from wandering. I headed back to my hostel for a bit to shower and change, and then it was time to visit the Mirabell Palace and Gardens again, but this time to go inside. I had booked a ticket for a Mozart concert and I got a front row seat.
The palace was built in 1606, and is used today for concerts and weddings. The room where the concert was held is full of gold and marble, I can see why people want to get married there. The palace staircase felt like a scene from Titanic, and every detail was immaculate. The musicians were amazing, and they all looked so young.
I’m constantly in awe of those who can play a musical instrument. I played the clarinet for a few years when I was in school, but couldn’t play a song if my life depended on it today (except for hot cross buns, forever for the HCB.) I’d always wanted to learn piano, but never made the time for it. I’m a sucker for piano, and my future husband will not only be able to build me a house in a flannel with a beard, he will also play the piano.
I left the next morning around 10am. I would have stayed a bit longer, but the weather turned crummy and I felt I’d seen all I needed for this trip. Plus the longer I stay places the longer I’m off track with my eating and start to feel like I’ve been hit by a train. I had a great last minute trip to Salzburg, and am happy I live so close to such amazing cities full of history.
Q: Are you a Sound of Music fan?
Blissfulbritt 
28 thoughts on “Salzburg, Austria – Pt.2”
rootchopper
Despite the fact that my mother was a huge fan of Mary Martin (who played Maria on Broadway) and Julie Andrews, I saw the SOM for the first time when it was 25 years old. I can’t think of another musical I like nearly as much. My son became infatuated with Maria in the movie when he was 3 years old. On the way to the hospital to see his newborn sister I asked him what her middle name should be. He said “Maria”. And that’s what we named her.
Brittany
This is the best story! I love it.
rootchopper
You should have seen the look in his eyes when he said “Maria!” It’s etched in my mind forever.
Brittany
So cute!
AJ
Touring on a bike sounds great!
Brittany
It was so much fun!
itsmejenlovett
As soon as I saw your first post about Salzburg the Sound of Music fan girl in me screamed! Its been my favorite movie since I was 4 years old, and now this is on my travel bucket list!
I am really enjoying your travel posts both here and on IG, thank you for sharing them!
Brittany
Thank you for reading!! I hope you make it to Salzburg!
James J. Wilson
Dear Brit,
Thank you for remembering me. I love your story and the excellent photos.
Love to you, Brit,
Papa
Brittany
Love you!
Darryl partner
I can’t understand why anyone would NOT be a fan of the movie.
For the record, I am a flannel clothing magnate with an epic beard and have just signed up for baroque piano lessons, as well as a course in structural engineering for residential construction. LOL
Brittany
Ummm are you my soulmate!?! 😂😂 that’s so funny, literally everything I said. I hope you share some of your learnings on your instagram!
Amy
That bike tour is officially going on my bucket list!! I memorized EVERY song in The Sound of Music when I was in 3rd or 4th grade. I still know most of the words to most of the songs. Total nerd over here! 😉 And is the fountain in the Mirabell Palace and Gardens the one they used in the movie for that really brief scene too??
Brittany
Yes about the fountain! You would love this tour. There are also little troll statues in the gardens the kids ran by and patted the heads.
Nita Wilson
you have to watch the movie…again…not only the 16 going on 17 gazebo. but the fountain and those two statues.
Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind–Bruce Lee
Brittany
Yes those were in movie too!
Nowhere Tribune
Very cool. What an awesome life you are living! Thanks for always sharing your experiences.
Brittany
Thank you for reading!
stateeats
How fun! I am a huge SOM fan and it is so cool you hit all the hot spots (well, almost all). I love a bike tour (almost as much as a food tour). We did one in Florence Italy last summer and it was the bomb! – Kat
Brittany
Ahh food tour in Italy sounds AMAZING.
gpavants
Hi Brittney,
Yes, I like musicals and I am a regular guy. I think it also has a great message about faith, love, and hope. I am ready to read more.
Thanks,
Gary
Brittany
I think so too!
Josh dV
Living the dream friend. The palace gardens are a sight to behold. Thank you for sharing.
I’ll admit that I have never watched Sound of Music.
Brittany
It’s never to late to watch it! 😝
P
The SOM is one of those feel good movies to watch with the fam, curled up on the couch with a bunch of blankets and warm tea 🙂 … haha, my fave song has always been “do rei mi”. I remember a lonnnnngggg time ago, I did a dance recital when I was like 7(?) where we danced to the song and I my “solo” part was at the “do” part of the song and I was so happy because I was like the leader cause it was the first part of the song 😛
Brittany
I love everything about this comment. I wish I could have watched that.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
A bike tour for The Sound of Music places!!! This is my everything. I would love to do this one day.
Brittany
You would have loved every minute. It was so magical.