The camera sweeps over mountains and lakes, then Maria spins across a wide alpine meadow and sings: the opening scene of The Sound of Music movie is one of the most famous moments in film history. “Where can I twirl like Maria?” is one of the questions our guests ask most often.
In the film
The movie opens with aerial shots over the lakes and mountains around Salzburg – among them Lake Wolfgang and Lake Königssee – before the camera finds Maria on her meadow, singing “The Sound of Music”. The scene was filmed from a helicopter in 1964.
Where the opening scene was filmed
Maria’s meadow is not in Salzburg itself but just across the border in Germany, in the Berchtesgaden region of the Bavarian Alps. It is private farmland and not open to visitors – please respect the owners and do not enter the meadow. On our tours we tell you more about the scene and where it was filmed.
Where you can twirl like Maria
- Mondsee: just two minutes’ walk from the wedding church, a tree-lined avenue leads out of the village – the road along which the Captain, the Baroness and Uncle Max drive in the movie. Wide open fields lie to the left and right: a beautiful spot for your own twirl. More on our Mondsee page.
- The Do-Re-Mi picnic field above Werfen: the meadow where Maria teaches the children “Do-Re-Mi”, with mountain views all around. More on our Werfen page.
Tips for your twirl
- Meadows are working farmland: please stay on the edge of the field and do not walk through tall grass before it is mown – it is the farmers’ hay.
- Morning and evening light make the best videos.
- Fans love to bring their own curtain dress for the photo.
Visit with Bob’s Special Tours
Our guides have been showing guests the filming locations of The Sound of Music movie since 1976. On our 4.5h tours we stop in Mondsee for about 40–45 minutes – enough time for the church and a twirl in the fields. On our private Do-Re-Mi picnic tour you twirl on the Do-Re-Mi picnic field.
- 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 Do-Re-Mi picnic tour with Werfen Castle
All filming locations at a glance: The Sound of Music movie filming locations in and around Salzburg.
Frequently asked questions
Where was the opening scene of The Sound of Music movie filmed?
On an alpine meadow in the Berchtesgaden region of Bavaria, Germany, just across the border from Salzburg. The aerial shots before it show the lakes and mountains around Salzburg.
Can you visit the meadow from the opening scene?
No. The meadow is private farmland and not open to visitors. Please respect the owners.
Where can I twirl like Maria near Salzburg?
In the open fields along the tree-lined avenue in Mondsee, two minutes from the wedding church, or on the Do-Re-Mi picnic field above Werfen. Both are part of our tours.