Now that Spain is going through a wave of cold and snowMany of us dream of the arrival of spring and good weather. We deny the freezing wind, low temperatures and rain but, deep down, we recognize that winter also has its charm and that if it were not for this season of the year, we would not be able to enjoy winter sports and places as incredible as igloos or igloos-hotels.
Last January 30, 2016 The largest igloo ever built in the world was inaugurated in Switzerland. It is located near the Zermatt station, in front of the mythical Matterhorn, and 1.387 blocks of snow were used for its construction, each of which weighs approximately 40 kilos.
Although this giant igloo was not built to accommodate guests, many others throughout Sweden, Finland or Lapland have been built with that function. Then, we visit some of the most spectacular igloos that exist in Europe.
Zermatt Igloo in Switzerland
This construction aims to celebrate the XNUMXth anniversary of Iglu-Dorf GmbH, the company responsible for its creation. In these two decades, the company has erected ice buildings in different alpine stations such as Davos, Gstaad, Engelberg or, in this case, Zermatt.
The project began on January 10 and to finish it, 2.000 hours of work were required by a team of fourteen people who worked at an altitude of 2.727 meters and with a temperature that reached 24ºC below zero.
The Zermatt igloo, with a diameter of thirteen meters, was included on Saturday 30 January by a Guinness judge in the Book of Records and since then it remains open to the public every day until the end of the snow season between 10.00 a.m. and 17.00 p.m.
Ice-Hotel in Sweden
The Ice-Hotel in Sweden is an establishment located in Jukkasjärvi through which 50.000 visitors from all over the world pass each year. It is built entirely with snow and ice from the nearby Torne River to give the structures greater consistency.
The IceHotel has 5.500 square meters. Despite the fact that its rooms are made with ice, design is also important in them: open, elegant spaces full of details. Here you can find furniture, carved walls and even ice chandeliers that are truly spectacular.
Since the cold could penetrate through the windows, there are not many inside the hotel. To compensate for this lack and to keep the interior perfectly lit, strategically placed LED bulbs are used.
Families from all over the world want to see the northern lights in the northernmost natural park in Europe and only 200 km. of the Polar Circle. In addition, in this place you can practice different activities in the snow such as traveling on dog sleds.
Kemi Snow Castle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX5t06hdqQ8
As with the Ice-Hotel in Sweden, Kemi Castle in Finland makes use of the abundant snow in the region and the frozen water of the Baltic shores to make special bricks that shape the impressive building.
The first Kemi Castle was built in 1996 and was such a success that it has been erected every year since. in order to attract more curious. It is an impressive architectural work designed by local artists whose shape varies every year and is illuminated with colored lights to provoke different sensations. They are the advantages of the ephemeral. In addition to being a hotel, it brings together an exhibition of ice sculptures, an ice bar and a chapel where weddings can be held.
The hotel has thirty double rooms, two for groups of five and one suite. This suite has a balcony overlooking the frozen sea of the Gulf of Bothnia. Many of the rooms are decorated by art students from the University of Lapland and Kemi. Room themes usually come from Lappish and Arctic culture.
In the surroundings of Kemi Castle there is a special area for children's games, another for artistic exhibitions whose main theme is snow and an area destined to offer theatrical shows.
Golden Crown in Lapland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w5TXn3zB_U
Ski enthusiasts will find the modern igloos of the Golden Crown hotel the ideal place to rest after an intense day in the open air. Located at the top of Utsuvaara Hill, in Finnish Lapland, a few kilometers from the town of Levi and its ski resort, these comfortable igloos with kitchen, private bathroom and heating promise to make your stay in Lapland unforgettable. They are not made of ice but their large windows will allow us to contemplate the stars and sunrises.
A magical enclave very close to the Peak Lapland viewpoint that can boast of a privileged natural environment and unbeatable views of the northern Finnish landscape.