A region rich in history and culture, SalzburgerLand has much to explore, from its mountains and lakes, to bustling city streets and glorious gardens, as Jo Lewis discovered on a trip to the Austrian province.
There are so many reasons to love the mountains, from the snow-capped peaks in winter and the stunning changing colours of the autumn, to the glorious green fields of the spring and summer as nature springs to life. And Austria is a perfect example of that beauty all year round.
For avid skiers, this coming winter 2026/27 season, SalzburgerLand offers a wide selection of snow-sure, prepared slopes with a range of blue, red and black runs providing something for every level of skier, as well as family-friendly areas, all enjoying the breath-taking mountainous backdrop.
But it was in 1965 that the ‘hills’ of SalzburgerLand were brought to life for the world stage with the release of the hit film The Sound of Music. Opening with the iconic scene of Julie Andrews singing and dancing across the hill top, it expressed the freedom and joy that being in the mountains brings to so many of us.
Now more than 60 years on, the movie is still beloved and to mark its anniversary, the Sound of Music Salzburg, a seasonal museum located in Hellbrunn Palace, opened on Sunday, dedicated to the musical, exploring both the Hollywood film and the true, historical story of the Trapp Family Singers. Plaques are also starting to appear around the region – put up to highlight key locations of scenes – as the movie was filmed throughout the area, meaning there’s a variety of places to explore on the journey to uncovering the real beauty spots behind the enchanting scenes of the film.
From Mirabell Gardens and St Nicholas Church, to the elegant Schloss Leopoldskron, where the lakeside terrace scenes of the von Trapp mansion were filmed, there are many locations throughout the region to explore if you are a fan of the much-loved film, but being in such beautiful destinations means it is a joy to visit these places whether you know their significance or not.
The Original Sound of Music Tour is a great way to be transported around the key locations by bus, or if you want to explore the city on foot then there is the Sound of Trudy guided tour.
Bringing memories to life
The image of the beauty of the mountains has been vividly in my mind since childhood, watching The Sound of Music every summer with my grandparents as part of our holiday ritual, so when I was presented with the opportunity to go to SalzburgerLand, visit the key sights and be there as they celebrated the anniversary with a gala night and symposium I jumped at the chance.
The gala night was held in the Horse Riding School (Salzburg Felsenreitschule) and was a glamourous evening of performances by the Salzburg State Theatre and music by the Mozarteum Orchestra, with guests including actors from the original film and members of the Trapp family.
The next day, the symposium under the title ‘Is The Sound of Music still alive in Salzburg today?’ was held at Schloss Leopoldskron in Salzburg, where many speakers discussed the impact and importance of the film. During a break I got to go into the grounds and the view of the mountains beyond the lake, from where I stood in the garden – where many scenes of the movie were filmed – was quite majestic.
Reaching the peaks in SalzburgerLand
Moving out of the city itself, the mountains of SalzburgerLand offer a treasure trove of experiences. A trip to Obertraun and a ride up the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car will take you to the Dachstein Giant Ice Cave with its light and sound show and the Mammut Cave, featuring spectacular modern art installations. The hike up there offers stunning views of the town below and is well worth the effort, even when it is followed by, the almost ironic, endeavour of then taking the many steps back down again, this time inside the mountain, to see the caves – however the sights are more than reward for the exercise.
Then, from this point on the mountain you can take the cable car further up to the peak where you can enjoy a well-earned lunch with a wonderful panoramic view of the Dachstein glacier. After refuelling, for those that are not fainted-hearted, make the short hike up to the 5fingers viewing platform where, if you dare, step out to the end of each of the differently designed walkways to enjoy stunning views of Hallstatt below.
At the foot of the mountains
Hallstatt itself is a must-visit location, with its stunning lake and pretty buildings, with markets and shops to browse as well as the Bone House in St Michael’s Chapel housing more than 600 painted skulls. It is no wonder that a picture of this location became such a massive hit as the Nokia phone home screen in 2015, as in reality the beauty of it is even more breath-taking.
A region built on its salt mining industry, Hallstatt is also home to the world’s oldest salt mine. Although during my visit it was undergoing works, I still discovered all about the rich salt mining history of the region with a trip to nearby Salzwelten Salzburg Salt Mine which offers fun for all the family, where you will be taken back through time as you weave your way through the tunnels. There are miners’ slides to zip down and a ride across its underground salt lake, as well as at one point on your journey crossing the border over to Germany and back.
A tranquil escape
A trip to Golling offers a tranquil escape and the opportunity to visit its beautiful roaring waterfall and St Nicholas Church, featured in the iconic opening sequence of The Sound of Music.
A city of culture
The city centre itself of Salzburg has much to explore, from the Hohensalzburg Fortress, sat high overlooking the UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the bustling street of Getreidegasse, Residenzplatz and Mozartplatz and, of course, Mirabell Palace and Gardens. Again here you can find the setting for iconic scenes – imagining the von Trapp children dancing around the fountain in the gardens. But there is so much more culture to uncover, being the birthplace of Mozart you can visit the Salzburg Cathedral where he was baptised, Mozart Square with its large bronze statue and Mozart Residence featuring exhibits on the family’s lives.
SalzburgerLand truly offers a myriad of experiences, blending alpine adventures with cultural riches. With its diverse blend of crystal-clear lakes, majestic mountains and city culture, it is an enchanting place to visit whatever the season.
For more information, visit salzburgerland.com
Photos: Jo Lewis
