For the very first time, the phenomenon of The Sound of Music can be explored in its entirety at Sound of Music Salzburg in Austria, a new museum located in the historic grounds of Hellbrunn Palace – from the real-life story of the von Trapp family, and the Broadway and Hollywood productions, to the movie’s global impact.

The Sound of Music Salzburg © Salzburg Museum / Tolga Salpat

Few movies have shaped the worldwide image of Salzburg as powerfully as The Sound of Music. Since its premiere on March 2, 1965, it has been one of the most successful musical films of all time: a worldwide hit with over 1 billion viewers, five Oscars—including Best Picture—and an unbroken run of success on television, streaming platforms, and musical theatre stages.

Opening Ceremony at the State Theatre © Salzburg Museum / Helena Kalleitner

Yet while songs such as “Do-Re-Mi,” “Edelweiss,” and “My Favorite Things” have long been part of the cultural fabric of the United States, the United Kingdom, Asia, and Australia, the movie itself remained surprisingly absent from Salzburg. Although hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world visit the film locations every year—most notably the famous gazebo in the park of Hellbrunn Palace—there was no museum that brought together the movie, the musical, and the history of the von Trapp family.

Sound of Music Salzburg © Salzburg Museum / Maurice Rigaud

Spanning a total area of 668 m² in the Hunting Lodge, Zookeeper’s Lodge, and Coach House of the Palace, the Sound of Music Salzburg features a total of 477 artifacts—including props from the film, movie posters, and stage productions by the State Theatre and the Marionette Theatre.

Opening Day © Salzburg Museum / Helena Kalleitner

At its heart is the gazebo, presented in the movie as a romantic pavilion. It was the setting for two of the movie’s best-known scenes: Captain von Trapp’s declaration of love to Maria and the duet “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” between Liesl and Rolf.

Original recordings of the musical from 1959, film footage and audio recordings from the 1964 production, footage featuring Maria von Trapp, and excerpts from the Hollywood movie offer insights into the making of a global cultural phenomenon.

Exhibition view, immersive gazebo © Salzburg Museum/Tolga Salpat/LiMES – Immersive Solutions GmbH

At the heart of Sound of Music Salzburg are two stories that are inextricably linked yet not identical: the global myth of The Sound of Music and the real-life story of the von Trapp family. The museum traces the journey from Maria von Trapp’s memoirs through the German films that preceded the musical and the 1959 Broadway premiere to the 1965 Hollywood movie. At the same time, it tells the story of a Salzburg family whose actual life story differs in significant ways from the version of their story known to millions of people through the movie.

One of the costumes from the film © Salzburg Museum / Tolga Salpat

Stefan Schnöll, Deputy Governor of the Province of Salzburg, said: “No film has shaped the international perception of our province as profoundly and enduringly as ‘The Sound of Music’. To this day, the city and province of Salzburg remain inextricably linked in the minds of millions of people around the world with the music and stories of the film.

“With ‘Sound of Music Salzburg,’ this special connection now has a dedicated home at Hellbrunn. Here, the story of the von Trapp family is brought together with the musical and the film, making it accessible to visitors from around the world as well as to the people of Salzburg.”

Georg and Maria von Trapp © Salzburg Museum / Tolga Salpat

The success of The Sound of Music is inextricably linked to Salzburg. The Baroque streets of the Old Town, Hohensalzburg Fortress, and the parks of Hellbrunn and Leopoldskron have become a magnet for millions of people thanks to the movie. Visitors from overseas come to Salzburg primarily because of the movie.

Exhibition view, The Hollywood Film Phenomenon © Salzburg Museum / Tolga Salpat

For many, visiting the filming locations is a key part of their itinerary. Over the past decades, this has developed into a thriving tourism sector, with bus tours, cycling routes, and guided tours. Sound of Music Salzburg will appeal to fans from around the world as well as visitors who want to experience the city’s culture, music and history. A global cultural phenomenon now has a new home—in the very place where a significant part of its story began.

If you or your group would like to enjoy a tailor-made tour of Austria or Europe, including a visit to the Sound of Music Salzburg museum, please do contact our friendly team today. Alternatively, if you would like to follow in the footsteps of your favourite film and TV characters on a Location Tour in the UK, Ireland or Europe, we can help!