March 2, 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of “The Sound of Music.”
But did you know that actress Julie Andrews, who also received an Oscar for Best Actress in the Sound of Music, revisited one of the film locations?
On April 23, 1964, singer and actress Julie Andrews filmed the historic wedding scene in The Sound of Music at the Mondsee Abbey in Upper Austria. This beautiful church is now known as the Basilica of Saint Michael.
In a resurfaced video, Andrews, who played Maria Von Trapp alongside Christopher Plummer’s character, Georg Von Trapp, visits this basilica 50 years after the film’s release.
The viral video with over three million views shows the actress walking through the basilica reminiscing this classic wedding scene.
The video actually stems from a 2015 DVD special entitled, “The Sound of a City – Julie Andrews Returns to Salzburg.” 20th Century Fox included it in a rerelease of the film‘s 50th anniversary.
The Basilica of Saint Michael, where Maria marries Georg von Trapp, is also a former Benedictine abbey. It was built in 748 and rebuilt in the 18th century. Pope Saint John Paul II elevated it to a basilica in 2005.
Andrews explains that the basilica was the movie’s first filming location. They invited 600 locals to attend in their wedding attire – completing the scene all in one day.
Here are some photos of the inside of the Sound of Music Movie’s Basilica of Saint Michael:
Photo credit: Wolfgang Sauber, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo credit: Organ / Wolfgang Sauber, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo credit: Thomas Ledl, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo credit: Altar of Annunciation (1680) by Meinrad Guggenbichler / Wolfgang Sauber, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
In the DVD special, Andrews also speaks with the parish priest (in 2015) Father Ernst Wageneder about the basilica and what they use it for. It’s now a hotspot for weddings due to the The Sound of Music’s popularity!
“You brought me with the film, ‘The Sound of Music’ a lot of work,” he says. “On Saturday, we have eight wedding ceremonies. That’s really hard, but I like it, because that’s a festivity of love.”
“I think so many people are coming because they would like to see the original place where the wedding took place 50 years ago,” the priest continued.
“The people fall in love, also, today. A lot of people can remember the day where you filmed The Sound of Music,” Father Wageneder said.
“The whole church looked quite amazing,” Andrews chimed in. “They were patient and kind. I remember, also, the director, Robert Wise, did an extraordinary thing, which I think is one of the most beautiful shots.”
“Not only did you see me coming along this beautiful aisle, but he put his cameras along the side and you saw me in profile. So each beautiful archway on the side here was captured,” Andrews continued.
“It’s a magnificent shot. It really is. I think he did the basilica proud.”
One response to “‘The Sound of Music’ Movie Star Julie Andrews Visits Historic Catholic Basilica From Wedding Scene for Film’s Anniversary”
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