Werfen: Cave, Castle and Film History

Werfen can be explored through a range of different interests: the Eisriesenwelt ice cave, a classic guided tour of Hohenwerfen Castle, the film-themed The Sound of Music Trail and high-alpine hikes in the surrounding mountains. You do not have to give these themes equal weight when planning your trip.

A striking contrast in temperature and a castle tour

At the Eisriesenwelt in Werfen, the temperature is usually below freezing, even in summer. So the summer month alone does not mean that temperatures inside the cave will be summery. If the Eisriesenwelt is part of your plans, bear this difference in mind as you prepare. It is a clear, practical point to consider when planning your trip: even in the warm season, the cave has a wintry feel in terms of temperature.

The classic guided tour of Hohenwerfen Castle includes the chapel, the torture chamber and the bell tower. The tour is therefore shaped by three named areas. If you choose a castle tour as a main focus, you can take these stops into account. Tour details may change seasonally, so check the latest information before your visit if this particular tour is important to your plans.

The Sound of Music Trail and its film scene

The Sound of Music Trail starts at the information office in the centre of Werfen; the starting point may change. Check the latest directions if the trail has a fixed place in your day’s plans. The route follows the story of the von Trapp family from the world-famous Hollywood musical “The Sound of Music” and takes about an hour to reach the scene at Gschwandtanger.

A key scene from “The Sound of Music” takes place at Gschwandtanger: Maria von Trapp teaches the children the song “DO-RE-MI.” The film “The Sound of Music,” starring Julie Andrews, was filmed at Gschwantanger in 1964. Together, the family story, the specific song scene and the year of filming give the trail a clear focus on film history. If you are interested in this aspect, you can understand the route not just by its name but also by reference to a particular scene.

Film trail or high-alpine hike?

High-alpine hikes are also available in the mountains around Werfen. This offers a different focus from the film-themed trail: the trail leads to a clearly identified film scene, while the high mountains are the focus of the hikes. This comparison can help you decide whether film history or mountain scenery should shape your stay. The two interests can thus be considered as different reasons to travel, without combining them into a single excursion.

Find a hotel to match your reason for travelling

Consider whether the castle tour, the trail, the Eisriesenwelt or the high-alpine hikes will be the main focus of your stay. For the trail, the starting point in the centre and the approximate one-hour walk to the film scene are practical reference points. For the castle tour, bear in mind that details can change seasonally; at the Eisriesenwelt, the temperature, which is usually below freezing even in summer, is an important point to consider as you prepare.

When considering a particular hotel, compare its location with your plans and take your travel dates into account.

Discover more destinations: Wimm, Lammertal, Reitdorf, Neuberg, Iglsbach, Untertauern, Sankt Johann Im Pongau, Sankt Veit Im Pongau.

Go to the main travel overview: Sankt Johann Im Pongau.