Anif Castle

Anif Castle is a stunning moated castle that sits on an artificial pond in the town of Anif, near Salzburg, Austria. The castle is one of the finest examples of Romantic Historicist architecture in the country, along with Kreuzenstein Castle and Grafenegg Castle in Krems. The castle has a rich and fascinating history, as well as a prominent role in several films and TV shows.

The Origins of Anif Castle

The exact origins of Anif Castle are unknown, but it is believed that a castle called Oberweiher existed at the same site as early as 1520. The castle was owned by Lienhart Praunecker, an Urbar magistrate, who may have built or renovated it. In 1530, the Archbishop of Salzburg started to grant the castle as a fief to various nobles and officials. In 1693, the castle was restored by Johann Ernst Graf von Thun, who gave it to the bishops of Chiemsee. The bishops used the castle as a summer residence until 1806, when the last of them, Sigmund Christoph von Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg, designed the castle’s magnificent English park.

The Castle as a Film Location

Anif Castle has been a popular film location for many decades, thanks to its picturesque and romantic appearance. The castle was first used as a film set in 1962, for the German adaptation of Father Brown, starring Heinz Rühmann. In 1965, the castle appeared in two Hollywood films: The Great Race Around the World, starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and Natalie Wood; and The Sound of Music, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. The castle is now part of the Sound of Music tour, which attracts thousands of fans every year.

In 1974, the castle was featured in The Odessa Files, based on the novel by Frederick Forsyth. Jon Voight played the lead role and met his adversary, Maximilian Schell, in the castle. In 1976, the castle was used again for a British film adaptation of Cinderella’s story, The Slipper and the Rose, starring Richard Chamberlain and Gemma Craven. In 1979, the castle hosted some scenes from Peter Sellers’ The Prisoner of Zenda. The castle also appeared in the German TV series Kir Royal (1986), in the episode “Karriere”, and in the US series Agentin mit Herz (1986), in the episode “Das Geisterschloss”.

The Castle and Its Furnishings

The castle and its owner, Johannes Moy de Sons, made headlines in October 2001, when it was revealed that some of the castle’s furnishings, which had been classified as an ensemble with the castle building in 1943, were being sold at Sotheby’s in Amsterdam. The sale sparked a controversy and a legal dispute, as some of the items were considered to be part of Austria’s cultural heritage. Some of the items were returned to Austria, and some of them are now on display at the Salzburg Museum.

The Castle Park

The castle park is one of the most important horticultural monuments in Austria, and is protected by law. The park was designed by the Salzburg court gardener Strobl around 1800, for Prince Archbishop Christof Graf Waldburg-Zeil-Trauchburg. The park is an early Romantic landscape garden, which has been largely preserved in its original concept to this day. The park features a variety of trees, shrubs, flowers, and water features, as well as a chapel, a pavilion, and a bridge.

The park is only partially open to the public twice a year, on Corpus Christi for the church procession and on December 8th for the Anifer Bläser’s nighttime tower blowing. The tower blowing is a traditional event, where brass musicians play from the castle tower to celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

The Castle Today

Anif Castle is still owned by the Moy family, who have renovated and maintained it between 1995 and 2000. The castle is not open to the public from the inside, but it can be admired from the outside. The castle is a must-see attraction for anyone who loves history, architecture, and romance. Anif Castle is a true gem in the Austrian landscape, and a testament to the beauty and charm of the Romantic Historicist style.

Salzburg, Austria