Guide to Hellbrunn Palace and its Unique Musical Trick Fountains
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Hellbrunn Palace, or, in German, Schloss Hellbrunn, was made famous by its trick fountains and the Sound of Music. Having been around for over 400 years, it is the most surprising of the many castles I have visited with its Hellbrunn Wasserspiele (aka Water Games). It is a whimsical and entertaining palace that leaves its visitors with a sense of wonder.
Established as an early Baroque villa, like the Baroque Austrian National Library in Vienna, this marveling palace is located near Morzg, a southern district in Salzburg, Austria. Making it an excellent day trip from Salzburg and a must for any Sound of Music fan!
The History of Hellbrunn Palace (Schloss Hellbrunn)
Constructed between 1613 and 1619 by Markus Sittikus von Hohenems, the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, its name comes from the German for “clear spring,” which provides the Palace with its source for the wonderous trick fountains (Hellbrunn Wasserspiele).
Solely used as a day residence in summer, it was a respite and oasis of pleasure for the Archbishop Markus Sittikus and his confidants away from the city. In fact, there are no bedrooms at Hellbrunn Palace at all!
Before your mind wanders into the gutter, the Palace was built for celebration, pleasure, and recuperation. Owning a pleasure palace was highly fashionable around 1615.
The Salzburg Water Games (Hellbrunn Wasserspiele)
The Salzburg Water Games (or, in German, Salzburger Wasserspiele) refers to the trick fountains that Schloss Hellbrunn is so famous for!
Conceived by the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, he was known for his sense of humor, which is easily seen when visiting these whimsical fountains.
Spending time at Hellbrunn leaves you with a feeling of elation at the magical fountains. Adults and children alike running through the waterworks, like kids running through sprinklers on a hot summer day. It was lovely to see how much joy Hellbrunn Wasserspiele gave all the visitors.
The trick fountains (Hellbrunn Wasserspiele) were designed as a series of practical jokes to be performed on the Prince-Archbishop’s guests. Providing not only a beautiful place to spend the day away from Salzburg but a place to be entertained. Think 17th century home water park.
Click the play button below to see some of them in action!
A Guided Tour of the Trick Fountains
The first trick fountain (Hellbrunn Wasserspiele) on the 40-minute tour appeared as a stone table with surrounding seats. Our guide asked for volunteers; some eager children stepped up and sat around the table.
The lovely tour guide, who provided the tour in English and German, distracted them long enough to surprise them with water that shot up through the seats!
But it’s not all gag seats on this tour; there’s also a water-operated mechanical theater accompanied by an organ built in 1750 that still works! It is the youngest part of the trick fountains and includes about 138 moving figures.
Both the figures and the organ are powered by water pressure. They depict the life of a small Baroque city to the tune of “Give Me Your Hand, My Darling,” an opera song.
There are also several grottos adorned with shells floor to ceiling, representing Greek mythology and its honored Gods. One of the grottos even sings!
The Midas Groot, or Crown Grotto, propels a crown to float on top of a water jet, symbolizing the rise and fall of power.
And there are so many more fantastic trick fountains at Hellbrunn Palace. I doubt these hydraulic marvels ever fail to captivate.
If you’re not a fan of water, I’d advise sticking next to the tour guide, as she/he stays primarily dry. It’s also where the Archbishop stood or sat to watch his friends enjoy the amusements of Hellbrunn Wasserspiele.
Summer: Guided evening tours in July and August treat you to a magical mix of water, light, and music.
Winter: During Christmas, the palace courtyard and driveway are transformed into an Advent market. Christmas Markets in Europe are amazing sights to behold! Nothing like what we have in the US!
Hellbrunn Palace Park (Schloss Hellbrunn Parken)
Hellbrunn Palace is situated on a large park (Schloss Hellbrunn Parken), which includes a nearby zoo, a stone theater, and a small building known as the Monatschlössl, or the “little month-palace.”
Having been built in one month after a visitor commented to the Prince-Archbishop that a building on the hill would improve the view from one of Hellbrunn’s windows. It now houses the ethnographical section of the Carolina Augusteum Museum of Salzburg.
The unicorns around the park remind me of Scotland’s Stirling Castle (since their national animal is the unicorn).
Inside the Palace
But it’s not just the Schloss Hellbrunn Parken you can visit; you can also go inside the Palace. The interior is just as beautiful as the exterior. Inside, they shine a light on the inner workings of the trick fountains (Salzburger Wasserspiele).
Take a look at the wooden pipes that used to run throughout the complex to facilitate the fountains. See a behind-the-scenes look at the mechanics that power some of the moving parts.
Sound of Music Filming Location
Not only is there the musical water-powered organ at the Palace. But recall that famous “I’m sixteen going on seventeen” part of the Sound of Music movie? The music pavilion where Liesl and Franz first meet is in the Hellbrunn Palace Park (Schloss Hellbrunn Parken).
A must-see for any Sound of Music fan and visitor of Hellbrunn Palace! And that’s not the only filming location in Salzburg! You can see many more around the city.
How to Get to Hellbrunn Palace from Salzburg
Take Line 25 from the main train station to Hellbrunn (via city center). I had the Salzburg Card, which gave me free use of public transportation (except S-railways / S-Bahn). So I took Bus 6 from our hotel to the city center, then got off there, changed buses, and continued onto the Palace.
The bus that drops you off is super close to the entrance of Hellbrunn Palace, so it’s just a short walk from the bus stop. The whole trip to get there took about 45 minutes from our hotel.
This will obviously differ depending on where you’re staying. Download a map ahead of time so you have it on hand. Even if you can’t use your data while abroad, you’ll still have a handy guide. This is how I easily figured out public transportation in Salzburg.
How to Visit Schloss Hellbrunn
Check Hellbrunn Palace’s official website for the latest opening times. It appears they don’t have trick fountain shows in winter, but as previously mentioned, they do have other experiences, such as the Advent market, should you be visiting Salzburg around Christmas. There you can also find information on the Palace’s most up-to-date entrance fees, exhibits, experiences, and more.
I used the Salzburg Card to get into Hellbrunn Palace; however, you can also purchase tickets onsite. The tickets include an audioguide tour through the Palace, a guided tour through the trick fountains, and a visit to the Folk Museum.
How long should you spend at Hellbrunn Palace? I’d recommend at least 2 hours to do a tour of the trick fountains, see the palace’s interior, and do a quick tour of the gardens. Plan for an additional hour if you’d like to see the Folk Museum.
Guided Tours
Trick fountains:
Duration of the guided tour: 40 minutes.
Languages: German, English.
Italian, French, and Spanish on request.
Palace Tour:
Duration of the audioguide: approx. 40 minutes.
Audioguide: German, English, Italian, French, Spanish, Russian, and Japanese.
Folk Museum:
10 minutes by foot from the Palace.
Duration of visit: approx. 60 minutes.
Other Ways to Visit
If you’d like to take the work out of seeing Hellbrunn Palace on your own, then I suggest Get Your Guide Tours, as they offer many marvelous options.
I love booking with them because if any issues arise, it’s easy to get a refund. Their tour operators are also affordable and reliable.
Book Activities & Tours:
Schloss Hellbrunn FAQs
Is Hellbrunn Palace worth visiting?
Yes! Hellbrunn Palace is one of the most unique Palaces I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting. My mother and I had a wonderful time touring the trick fountains and exploring the interiors of the Palace. I highly recommend visiting to anyone planning a trip to Salzburg.
Was the Sound of Music filmed at Hellbrunn Palace?
Yes and no. The famous Sound of Music gazebo, which was the filming location where Liesl and Franz confessed their love, where Maria and Georg’s romantic scene took place, as well as the duet ‘Sixteen Going on Seventeen,’ is now located in the Hellbrunn Palace gardens.
However, the gazebo was originally located at Leopoldskron Palace. Due to fans’ interest, it was relocated to the Hellbrunn Palace Gardens to allow easier access to visitors.
Is Hellbrunn Palace included in the Salzburg Card?
Yes, Hellbrunn Palace is included in the Salzburg Card. I highly recommend getting the Salzburg Card as it grants holders free use of public transportation and free entry into many of Salzburg’s main attractions.
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