Where it All Began … the Von Trapp Villa in Salzburg
The former home of the famous singing Von Trapps is situated along Traunstrasse in Salzburg’s Aigen district, not far from the Aigen Church.
It was planned and constructed by the reknown Salzburg Architect Valentin Ceconi (1827 – 1888) and orginially was named „Villa Walburga“. Nowadays, the Von Trapp Villa is a listed building.
In 1833, Salzburg’s former governor Raimund Reichsgraf von Lamberg obtained and rebuilt the villa for his Family. Lamberg’s grandson, Georg Ritter von Trapp, took over the villa complete with its inhouse chapel in 1923.
Life in the Von Trapp Villa
The Von Trapp villa was home to the family up until they made their escape into the US in 1938. The adjoining park and farm made it easy for the family and their servants to be self-sufficient. For many years, Johanna Raudaschl was the family cook at the Von Trapps. Her recipes for delights like date macaroons, “convent crescents” and more were collected by her granddaughter and are now available as the cook book „The Sound of Cooking“.
After the Von Trapps …
1939 brought dark times to the Von Trapp villa, when SS-Leader Heinrich Himmler seized, redid and even partly destroyed the house. For instance, the inhouse chapel was turned into a drinking hall. Himmler never was officially registered as the owner of the house, though, and so it staid in Von Trapp ownership, before a congregation of missionaries took it over.
In 2010, a planned hotel and museum project stirred a lot of emotions. The plans were quashed after many of the villa’s neighbours protested. And so, the Von Trapp villa stays a hidden gem for Salzburg’s visitors.
At the Amadeohotel we are delighted to assist our guests with many insider tipps for your trip to Salzburg.
Written by amadeohotel
