Leopoldskron Lake with its Rococo palace is where the film shows the garden side of the von Trapp villa – including the famous scene where Maria and the children fall out of the boat.
In the film
The garden side of the Trapp villa in the movie was filmed here on the shore of Leopoldskron Lake (Leopoldskroner Weiher): the lakeside terrace, the boat scene and the arrival of Baroness Schraeder. The interiors of the villa, such as the ballroom, were built in the Hollywood studio and only inspired by rooms in the palace. The front of the film villa – where Maria arrives with her guitar – is a different building: Frohnburg Palace on Hellbrunner Allee.
The real history
Leopoldskron Palace was built in 1736 for Prince-Archbishop Leopold Anton von Firmian. In 1918 it was bought by Max Reinhardt, one of the founders of the Salzburg Festival, who restored it as a meeting place for artists. Since 1947 it has belonged to the Salzburg Global Seminar and is used as a hotel and conference venue. The real von Trapp family never lived here. Their home was Villa Trapp in the Aigen district of Salzburg, which was not used in the film. Since 1947 it has belonged to the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, a Catholic order; after some years as a hotel it is a religious house again and is currently not open to visitors.
Tip: Breakfast in the palace
The best way to see Leopoldskron Palace from the inside is breakfast in its Marble Hall. The hotel welcomes not only its own guests: you sit beneath the historic painted ceiling with a view of the lake and the mountains – a beautiful start to a day of exploring the filming locations. Please reserve in advance: book your breakfast in the Marble Hall. More information on the website of Schloss Leopoldskron.
Visiting tips
- The palace is a private hotel. Visitors can see it from the public path on the opposite side of the lake – this is where the classic photo of the garden side of the Trapp villa from the movie is taken.
- A winter highlight that does not happen every year: when it stays cold long enough, Leopoldskron Lake freezes over and becomes a beautiful natural ice rink. You can skate right up close to the palace terrace – but only when the ice has been officially opened for skating.
Visit with Bob’s Special Tours
Our guides have been showing guests the filming locations since 1976 – with the stories behind the scenes, the real history of the von Trapp family and Salzburg’s culture beyond the film. You can see this location on:
- Public 4.5h tour to the filming locations
- Private 4.5h tour to the filming locations
- Private tour from Passau or Linz (for Danube cruise guests)
- Full-day tour to the filming locations and Hallstatt
- Private full-day tour to the filming locations and Hallstatt
- Private 4-hour e-bike tour to the filming locations
All filming locations at a glance: The Sound of Music movie filming locations in and around Salzburg.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit the von Trapp villa from the film?
Leopoldskron Palace is a private hotel and can be seen from across the lake. To see it from the inside, reserve a breakfast in the Marble Hall, which is also open to non-hotel guests. The front of the film villa, Frohnburg Palace, is not open to the public, and the interiors of the film were shot in a studio in Hollywood.
Is Leopoldskron Palace the real home of the von Trapp family?
No. Leopoldskron is the garden side of the Trapp villa in the movie. The real family lived in Villa Trapp in the Aigen district of Salzburg, which today belongs to a Catholic order and is not open to visitors.
Where is the boat scene from The Sound of Music movie filmed?
On Leopoldskron Lake (Leopoldskroner Weiher) in Salzburg, next to Leopoldskron Palace.