May 18: Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do-n't You Wish You Came with Us on this Sound of Music Tour?

WJU Alumni and the Sound of Music Tour

On Monday, our first full day in Salzburg, the majority of the group went gallivanting through a forest to find a fortress. But a few of us decided to stay behind to experience the original Sound of Music Tour, which was clearly the better option [ed.'s note: this is clearly open for debate].

The day began with us boarding a tour bus adorned in Sound of Music imagery – including a colossal picture of Queen Julie herself. Our enthusiastic guide began the tour in Salzburg, pointing out various locations throughout the city that were featured in the film. For example, we saw the Nonnburg Abbey, an active convent which was not only where a few scenes were filmed, but also where the real Maria Von Trapp lived. We also saw the river banks and the bridge where the children run before they sing “Do-Re-Mi.” Some other fascinating places we saw included the hotels where Julie, Christopher Plummer, and the children all stayed. Our guide shared with us stories about Christopher Plummer’s excessive partying, as well as all of the trouble the children got into when they were stuck in the hotel.

Leopoldskron Palace

 Our first stop was Leopoldskron Palace, which was the site used to film the scene where the children, along with Maria, fall out of their boat upon seeing the Captain and the Baroness. Our tour guide informed us that Leopoldskron was only used in scenes featuring the backyard. The other house, which we were only able to see from a distance since it is a private school now, was used for all of the scenes shot in front of the Von Trapp house. It was where the Captain tears down the Nazi flag and also where Julie sings the second half of “I Have Confidence.”  

The all-important Gazebo

Our second stop was at Hellbrunn Palace. This location itself has no real connection to the film. However, there is a very important set piece from the film on the grounds: THE GAZEBO. Originally, this particular gazebo was located in the back yard of Leopoldskron, but due to acts of vandalism, the gazebo was moved to Hellbrunn. The biggest disappointment came when our tour guide told us that we were not able to go into the gazebo and perform Rolf and Liesel’s dance routine to “Sixteen Going on Seventeen.” We were depressed for a few minutes, but we pulled through.

For the second half of our tour, we journeyed into the mountains to see some of the scenic locations from the film. This was certainly the best part of the trip because our tour guide played the entire Sound of Music soundtrack and encouraged everyone to sing along – a task at which our group excelled. We had absolutely no problem showing off our marvelous vocal range [!] as we sang along with Queen Julie. After a few songs, we stopped at the village of St. Gilgen to view Lake Wolfgang, a location used in the picturesque opening montage at the beginning of the film. 

Lake Wolfgang

St. Michael's Chuch

 We then traveled a bit further, while singing, to the village of Mondsee. Here we explored the beautiful church of St. Michael where the wedding scene between Maria and the Captain was filmed. Our tour guide explained that the wide angle lens used to film the scene made the church look much larger on screen. Regardless, it was a beautiful, ornate church that pictures do not do justice!

Quite a Squad at the Do-Re-Mi Fountain

Before heading back to the bus, we stopped at a café to enjoy “crisp apple strudel” with ice cream (OBVIOUSLY ONE OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS) and frolicked in a field just like Queen Julie did in the opening of film. We took many pictures. MANY pictures. Our descent back down the mountain brought more singing, including a very emotional sing along to “Edelweiss” [ed.'s note: debate over -- the fortress was clearly the better choice]. We ended our tour with a quick walk through the Mirabell Gardens where most of the scenes from Do-Re-Mi were filmed. All in all, it was a pretty successful day, and everything we had hoped it would be!