Leopoldskron Castle, Salzburg

With a fascinating history beginning in the 1730s courtesy of the then Prince-Archbishop, Count Leopold Anton Eleutherius von Firmian, this rococo mansion is beautifully located at lake edge and with terrific vistas of the mountains. A further contribution to the cultural life of the city was the founding of the Salzburg Festival here by Max Reinhardt and others. You will very much enjoy your time here, admiring the beauty and strolling around the grand surrounds. An on-site hotel offers bicycles for the guests to take into the city, which is also a fantastic way to get around in the beautiful countryside.

***SOUND OF MUSIC TOUR***
Located about 4 miles away from the real-life Von Trapp Villa (which didn't itself appear in the film), this castle served as the primary location for all the lake terrace scenes at the Von Trapp family house in The Sound of Music.

Overlooking a small lake, the castle's façade provided backdrop for the most iconic outdoor scenes including those of drinking pink lemonade on the terrace, Captain Von Trapp hearing his kids sing for the first time, the children and Maria falling off the boat into the lake, as well as numerous shots of the lakeside horse statues framing up Untersberg Mountain.

The castle was also the original home to the gazebo from the movie, which was later moved to the nearby, more tourist-friendly Hellbrunn Palace Gardens after the fans started climbing the palace gates to see it. The second and much larger gazebo was built at Fox Studios in Hollywood for all of the scenes set inside the family home – the bedroom, the grand foyer and the staircase, as well as the lavish golden Venetian ballroom. These re-created spaces are featured when Maria is introduced to the children, when they sing at the party, performing "Lonely Goatherd" with carved puppets, as well as when they dance to the song "16 Going on 17" and bid their farewells.

Why You Should Visit:
There isn't an angle of the building to look at that isn't absolutely incredible; inside or out.

Tip:
Don't miss the fantastic water park (Freibad Leopoldskron) right opposite the castle!