The Sound of MusicFans Can Still Visit the Austrian Palace Where the Classic Musical Was Filmed

Mar. 15, 2025

Julie Andrews in 1965’s ‘The Sound of Music’ and Schloss Leopoldskron.Photo:Getty; De Agostini via Getty

Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music, Schloss Leopoldskron

Getty; De Agostini via Getty

Much like those famous hills, the Austrian palace that inspired the von Trapp family villa is still alive with the sound of music. And fans looking to relive the magic of the classic 1965 film can visit and even stay there!

Back in 1964, the historic Schloss Leopoldskron in Salzburg, Austria, was chosen as one of the primary filming locations for director Robert Wise’s big screen adaptation ofThe Sound of Music, starringJulie AndrewsandChristopher Plummer. Today, the Rococo-style palace overlooking a picturesque pond is open to the public as Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron.

Schloss Leopoldskron.Getty

A general view during the ISA gala ( International Salzburg Association ) at Schloss Leopoldskron on July 27, 2016 in Salzburg, Austria.

Getty

Unfortunately, you won’t find the glass pavilion where Rolfe (Daniel Truhitte) and Liesl (Charmian Carr) sang “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” at Schloss Leopoldskron anymore. Like the palace itself, the actual pavilion, which used to stand in the surrounding park, is only seen in the film’s establishing shots, while its interior was recreated on a soundstage. According to Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron’swebsite, the real pavilion was moved to Schloss Hellbrunn due to the massive influx of tourists in the years afterThe Sound of Musicwas released.

Charmian Carr, Heather Menzies-Urich, Nicholas Hammond, Julie Andrews, Nicholas Hammond, Kym Karath, Debbie Turner and Angela Cartwright  in 1965’s ‘The Sound of Music’.20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock

Charmian Carr, Heather Menzies-Urich, Nicholas Hammond, Julie Andrews, Nicholas Hammond, Kym Karath, Debbie Turner, Angela Cartwright  in The Sound of Music

20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock

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The film, based on the Broadway musical of the same name, which itself was based on the true story of Maria von Trapp and the Trapp Family Singers, is one of Andrews’s most memorable. Her performance as Maria earned her a second Oscar nomination for Best Actress in 1965, after winning the same award for her role in Disney’sMary Poppinsthe year before.

She returned to Salzburg againfor a 2015 featurette included in a 50th anniversary edition DVD edition of the film. The success ofThe Sound of Music, she said at the time, “created an indelible link between the film and the city in which its story took place.”

source: people.com