Salzburg has a new cultural landmark: Sound of Music Salzburg is now open at Hellbrunn. The new museum brings together The Sound of Music, the celebrated musical and the true story of the von Trapp family in one dedicated exhibition. Opened to the public on 20 September 2026, the museum finally gives visitors a permanent place to explore the story behind the film, the musical and the real Salzburg family that inspired them. The opening celebrations also brought familiar faces back to Salzburg: Nicholas Hammond, Debbie Turner, Duane Chase and Kym Karath — four actors who played members of the von Trapp family in the 1965 film — returned to the city more than six decades after filming took place.
For Nicholas Hammond, Debbie Turner, Duane Chase and Kym Karath, the opening was also a return to the city where they had worked together as children. Hammond played Friedrich, Turner portrayed Marta, Chase played Kurt and Karath appeared as Gretl in the 1965 film. During their stay in Salzburg, the former child actors revisited places connected with The Sound of Music. Their presence added a personal dimension to the opening and highlighted the remarkable relationship between Salzburg and a film that continues to connect generations of visitors with the city. Members of the real von Trapp family were also represented during the celebrations, bringing the historical family story and its cinematic legacy together at the opening of the new museum.
Sound of Music Salzburg opened to the public on 20 September 2026 with an Open House at Hellbrunn. The museum fills a gap that had existed in Salzburg for decades. While international guests have long travelled to the city to discover filming locations connected with The Sound of Music, there had never been a permanent museum bringing together the Hollywood film, the Broadway musical and the real history of the von Trapp family. Located at the entrance to Hellbrunn Palace Park, the museum forms part of the Salzburg Museum and occupies the carefully restored Remise, Jägerhaus and Tierwärterhaus.
Across 668 square metres, the exhibition presents 477 objects connected with the von Trapp family, the musical and the film. Original recordings of the musical, historic photographs, material from the 1964 film production, international movie posters and objects from stage productions trace the journey from a real Salzburg family story to Broadway, Hollywood and worldwide cultural recognition. The museum is situated only a short walk from the famous Sound of Music Gazebo, creating a direct connection between the exhibition and one of Salzburg’s best-known original filming locations.
At the heart of Sound of Music Salzburg are two closely connected stories: the international phenomenon of The Sound of Music and the real history of the von Trapp family. The exhibition follows the journey from Maria von Trapp’s memoirs through the early German-language films and the Broadway musical of 1959 to the Hollywood production released in 1965. At the same time, it explores where historical reality differs from the story familiar to millions through the film. Visitors discover not only the cinematic world of The Sound of Music, but also the people whose lives became the starting point for an international cultural phenomenon.
The exhibition combines historical objects with contemporary multimedia storytelling and explores the real family history, Broadway, Hollywood and the film’s worldwide cultural legacy.
One of the exhibition highlights is a recreated Gazebo that visitors can enter. Inside, 360-degree projection, surround sound and interactive elements create an immersive interpretation of familiar moments from the film. The museum also explores the international reception of The Sound of Music and how the film became part of popular culture around the world.
Few films have shaped the international image of Salzburg as strongly as The Sound of Music. The city’s gardens, palaces, historic streets and surrounding landscapes have become destinations for generations of visitors searching for places they first encountered on screen. With Sound of Music Salzburg, the city now has a permanent cultural institution where the film, musical and real family history can be explored together. The museum adds a new dimension to Salzburg’s relationship with the story: visitors can now discover not only where famous scenes were created, but also how the real von Trapp family story developed into a Broadway musical and ultimately one of Hollywood’s most enduring musical films.
Sound of Music Salzburg is located at Fürstenweg 33–35 in Salzburg, close to Hellbrunn Palace Park and the famous Gazebo. For current opening hours, practical visitor information and a closer look at the exhibition, visit our complete Sound of Music Museum Salzburg visitor guide.
Guests who would like to connect the museum with Salzburg’s original filming locations can add a museum visit to selected private Sound of Maria experiences by weTours Salzburg. The museum provides the historical and cultural background, while your private journey takes you to the real Salzburg places that became part of the cinematic story. Discover how the museum can become part of your itinerary with our Sound of Music Museum Visit Salzburg add-on.
Beyond the museum, Salzburg offers many of the original locations associated with The Sound of Music. Visit the Sound of Music Gazebo, discover Leopoldskron Palace and explore the gardens, city landmarks and landscapes that became part of the film. Our private Sound of Maria experiences combine these locations with personal storytelling, live music and the flexibility of a private journey through Salzburg.
This experience includes visits to the following iconic attractions:
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