The "Villa Trapp" is located on the outskirts of Salzburg and once housed the von Trapp family, which gained global fame in a 1965 film starring Julie Andrews.

The movie, which altered some details of the family's history, tells the story of an Austrian woman who married a widower with seven children and teaches them music.

"After decades, this wonderful place will be opened to the public," Salzburg tourism official Wilfried Haslauer said in a statement.

The hotel will be opened on 25 July 2008. will have 14 rooms and and rates will be around 100 Euros a night B&B. The villa's chapel is licensed for weddings and the first guests of the honeymoon suite will be a swiss couple of over 90 years of age. There is also a small exhibition displaying Von Trapp memorabilia including a miniature ship constructed by Baron von Trapp.

Haslauer said the park surrounding the villa will also be open to the public and that refreshments and souvenirs will be sold in a pavilion to be built there. Original furnishings that once belonged to the family will also be on view on the property.

Press contact:

Ms Marianne Dorfer, tel. +43 662 630860, mob. +43 664 84 91 840, presse@villa-trapp.cc, www.villa.trapp.cc