POTD: Nonnberg Abbey – where Maria von Trapp was a postulant

Photo of the Day: Nonnberg Abbey (Stift Nonnberg) is a Benedictine monastery in Salzburg, Austria.

This was the convent where Maria served as a postulant before she was sent to look after the children of Captain von Trapp in the musical and movie “The Sound of Music”.

Graves within the compounds of the Nonnberg Abbey, just outside the Abbey Church. The entrance to the church can be seen in the background.

Graves within the compounds of the Nonnberg Abbey, just outside the Abbey Church. The entrance to the church can be seen in the background.

Maria Augusta Kutschera had joined Nonnberg Abbey as a postulant after graduating from college when she was eighteen.

As a postulant, she was requesting admission into the Abbey as a nun, which may or may not be granted.

The original plan was for her to look after one of Georg von Trapp’s daughters and return after 10 months to formally enter the nunnery.

She eventually went on to look after all of Georg’s seven children and agreed when the latter proposed to her, asking her to stay with him and become a second mother to his children.

She bore him three additional children after they got married.

The interior of the church in Nonnberg Abbey. This was where the real Maria and Georg von Trapp were married. It was already late evening when we visited and this photo was taken handheld at ISO 6400.

The interior of the church in Nonnberg Abbey. This was where the real Maria and Georg von Trapp were married. It was already late evening when we visited and this photo was taken handheld at ISO 6400.

The monastery in the movie was actually a movie set built specially for the filming.

Incidentally, Maria and Georg von Trapp were married at the Nonnberg Abbey in 1927, when she was 22.

Inside the Nonnberg Abbey and just outside its church.

Inside the Nonnberg Abbey and just outside its church.

According to Wikipedia, Nonnberg Abbey was founded in 714 AD by Saint Rupert of Salzburg.

With most of the Abbey destroyed by fire in 1423, the current Nonnberg was reconstructed after the fire.

It is considered to be the oldest nunnery in the world that existed with no interruptions.

* All the photos in this article were taken with a Sony A7 full-frame mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, with Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS full-frame E-mount zoom lens. Photo credit: John Tan.

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8 Responses to “POTD: Nonnberg Abbey – where Maria von Trapp was a postulant”

  1. Tissian Yu says:

    Wow, is this really where the captain and Maria got married? so interesting. I love Sound of Music!

  2. Pete Lensky says:

    The black and white photo seems more congruent to what I remember from the movie. The nunnery looks peaceful and tranquil.

    • tech4tea says:

      It’s really nice and quiet. Peaceful and tranquil. But it’s not the same building as the one used in the movie. The movie used a set.

  3. Carl Braun says:

    Was there two years ago. A friend brought us when we were in Salzburg. Did you hear them sing? It was beautiful!

    • tech4tea says:

      No we didn’t hear them sing. We had hoped to but I don’t think they sing the whole year round. Didn’t get to hear them either the last time I visited as a student. Maybe next time.

  4. Elizabeth Lim says:

    Hey we’re planning to go Salzburg in September. Will definitely check out this place where Maria and Cpt von Trapp got married. So romantic!

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