Salzburg: Did you know?

Did you know these about Salzburg in Austria?

* Mountain Cleaner *

I was told that in Salzburg there are houses built on the mountain. What's so special about that? Later, I came to realise that these houses are built onto or against the mountain rocks.


Houses built "onto" mountain.


A clearer view from this picture. Clever huh? Savings from having to build one side of wall lesser.

In one year, there was an unfortunate incident of rocks falling off from the mountains and killed hundreds of people living in such houses. After the tragic occurrence, the Austrian introduced "Mountain Cleaners", who are responsible to regularly clear off loose rocks/stones in the mountains to prevent such accidents from happening. Austria is probably the only country in the world that has such an occupation.

More photos of Salzburg









* Nonberg Scandal *

This is Nonberg Convent (one with the red dome), where Maria in the "Sound of Music" is from.


Nonberg Convent

During the shooting of the film, some extras were engaged to pose as nuns from the convent. During shooting breaks, these "nuns" were seen by hikers, sitting in the courtyard, lifting up their robes to above the knees and smoking to cool themselves down during the warm summer. As a result, the Nonberg Convent earned a bad name as the film extras were mistaken as real "nuns" and the behaviours and characters of nuns from this convent were being questioned.

It was said that the nuns from Nonberg Convent had later to do much work and explanation in order to regain the good reputation of the convent.

More photos from Sound of Music Tour