Mirabell Palace & Gardens in Salzburg: Remembering ‘Sound of Music’ and an Illicit Medieval Love Affair
When I was a little girl in the 1970’s, the popular children’s films which are also musicals were ‘Wizard of Oz’, ‘Mary Poppins’, ‘Sound of Music’, ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ and then in the 1980’s we had ‘Annie’, ‘Oliver Twist’, ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks’. I really enjoyed them a lot. I have watched a few of them in the movie houses, on our Betamax which eventually evolved into VHS, as well as on TV which the networks tend to air during the Christmas season.
December really reminds me of these classic children’s films, but they also say that the older you become, the more you remember your childhood.
Mirabell Palace and Gardens
Website: Mirabell Palace and Gardens
Following the spirit of the Christmas season, I am posting another nostalgia, a trip back in time, to a place that has been popularised by one of the films/musicals above, that will for sure bring back many memories of our past childhood days.
Last May I was in Salzburg, Austria and one of my visit highlights were the Mirabell Palace and Gardens built in 1606. The estate is a UNESCO world heritage site. It is a wonderful place that reminds my generation in the 1970s and 1980s, and older generations as well, the Sound of Music film and musical.
The Mirabell Palace and Gardens were featured at the last part and finale of the ‘Do-Re-Mi’ song by Maria and the Von Trapp children. Check out this video about the shooting locations of the Sound of Music film: The Sound of Music Tour - Movie Locations (fast forward to 5:50 for the scene at the Mirabell)
TRIVIA: Did you know that many native Austrians have no clue about the Sound of Music or the singing Von Trapp Family story?
This reminds me of the Hans Brinker story of a little boy who saved Holland by plugging his finger into a broken dike. The natives in the Netherlands have no clue about it as well, haha. The reason really is because these stories were written by foreigners and circulated internationally =)
Let us set aside all these Christmastime thoughts of the past and investigate a little bit deeper the history of this lovely medieval palace. What and why this palace came to be....
Where it all began: An Illicit Medieval Love Affair
The palace was bulit in 1606 and the gardens were redesigned in 1690, which were then remodeled in 1740 by Franz Anton Danreiter.
TRIVIA: Did you know that this beautiful palace was built as a token of a prince-archbishop’s illicit love, and a residence-refuge as well, for his burgher (non-noble) mistress?
Prince-Archibishop of Salzburg, Wolf of Dietrich von Raitenau commissioned this palace, previously called the Altenau Palace, in 1606 for his mistress, Salome Alt. Salome was a lovely daughter of a rich protestant merchant. Because of their differences in status (he being a noble and she a burgher) and religion (he a catholic clergy and she a protestant) they could never be married, but they found ways to be together and remained true to each other.
Back in those days, the palace was situated outside the medieval gates of Salzburg across the river so the couple could go on with their lives without the prying eyes of the local people. Their illicit union gave them fifteen children, ten of whom have survived.
After Wolf Dietrich’s death the palace was renamed to Mirabell by his successor, Markus Sittecus von Hohenems. Mirabell means: Wonderful.
Such a remarkable love story. As they say, love is beautiful (or wonderful) and love conquers all. I wish you all lots of love this season and all throughout the year.
The Mirabell Palace nowadays houses the Salzburg mayor’s office and the municipal council. The palace (the Marble Hall) can also be rented out for concerts, meetings and events (i.e. weddings).
Travel Period: May 2013
Destination: Salzburg (Salzburg), The Netherlands
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
December really reminds me of these classic children’s films, but they also say that the older you become, the more you remember your childhood.
Mirabell Palace and Gardens
Website: Mirabell Palace and Gardens
Following the spirit of the Christmas season, I am posting another nostalgia, a trip back in time, to a place that has been popularised by one of the films/musicals above, that will for sure bring back many memories of our past childhood days.
Last May I was in Salzburg, Austria and one of my visit highlights were the Mirabell Palace and Gardens built in 1606. The estate is a UNESCO world heritage site. It is a wonderful place that reminds my generation in the 1970s and 1980s, and older generations as well, the Sound of Music film and musical.
The Mirabell Palace and Gardens were featured at the last part and finale of the ‘Do-Re-Mi’ song by Maria and the Von Trapp children. Check out this video about the shooting locations of the Sound of Music film: The Sound of Music Tour - Movie Locations (fast forward to 5:50 for the scene at the Mirabell)
TRIVIA: Did you know that many native Austrians have no clue about the Sound of Music or the singing Von Trapp Family story?
This reminds me of the Hans Brinker story of a little boy who saved Holland by plugging his finger into a broken dike. The natives in the Netherlands have no clue about it as well, haha. The reason really is because these stories were written by foreigners and circulated internationally =)
The fountain in front of the Mirabell Palace.
Mythology themed statues adorned the Mirabell gardens.
Such beautiful and colourful landscape gardens in front of the Mirabell Palace. The four groups of statues surrounding the main fountain in front of the palace were sculpted by Ottavio Mosto (1690) and symbolize the four elements: fire, air, earth and water.
The flowers (tulips) are a bloom in spring.
A Mozart mime posing with tourists (for a fee).
The palace and gardens have fabulous views to the Hohensalzburg Fortress and Salzburg Cathedral.
Let us set aside all these Christmastime thoughts of the past and investigate a little bit deeper the history of this lovely medieval palace. What and why this palace came to be....
Where it all began: An Illicit Medieval Love Affair
The palace was bulit in 1606 and the gardens were redesigned in 1690, which were then remodeled in 1740 by Franz Anton Danreiter.
TRIVIA: Did you know that this beautiful palace was built as a token of a prince-archbishop’s illicit love, and a residence-refuge as well, for his burgher (non-noble) mistress?
The green foliage tunnel in the Do-Re-Mi song in the Sound of Music.
Prince-Archibishop of Salzburg, Wolf of Dietrich von Raitenau commissioned this palace, previously called the Altenau Palace, in 1606 for his mistress, Salome Alt. Salome was a lovely daughter of a rich protestant merchant. Because of their differences in status (he being a noble and she a burgher) and religion (he a catholic clergy and she a protestant) they could never be married, but they found ways to be together and remained true to each other.
Back in those days, the palace was situated outside the medieval gates of Salzburg across the river so the couple could go on with their lives without the prying eyes of the local people. Their illicit union gave them fifteen children, ten of whom have survived.
After Wolf Dietrich’s death the palace was renamed to Mirabell by his successor, Markus Sittecus von Hohenems. Mirabell means: Wonderful.
Such a remarkable love story. As they say, love is beautiful (or wonderful) and love conquers all. I wish you all lots of love this season and all throughout the year.
This is the famous horse fountain in the Do-Re-Mi song in the Sound of Music.
This is the location of the finale of the Do-Re-Mi song in the Sound of Music.
The palace has lovely views to the old town, the dome of Salzburg Cathedral and the Hohensalzburg Fortress. So Salome always has views of where his Prince-Archibishop lover Wolf Dietrich is, either at work in the cathedral or at his official home in the fortress.
Beautiful! Even on a showery, grey, cold May day.
The flowers are lovely when they have dew glistening on their petals.
Beside the main gardens you can find this simple hedge maze garden and the open-air Hedge Theatre.
The Mirabell Palace nowadays houses the Salzburg mayor’s office and the municipal council. The palace (the Marble Hall) can also be rented out for concerts, meetings and events (i.e. weddings).
Travel Period: May 2013
Destination: Salzburg (Salzburg), The Netherlands
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
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