Natur Eis Palast (Nature Ice Palace)

The ice with all its special properties has fascinated humanity since time immemorial. Even though the climate is severely affecting glaciers today: Still, around 11 percent of the land on Earth is constantly covered by glaciers and almost a quarter of the land disappears under a snow cover for more than four months a year. Glaciers are found all over the world, even at the equator. 85% of the glaciers are located in Antarctica, 12% in the Arctic and in Greenland. The glaciers of Europe make up only 0.04% of the total area. The Hintertux Glacier, which is home to Austria's only true year-round ski area, is one of the smaller glaciers despite an ice thickness of up to 120 m.

The impressive system of passages and cavities in the glacial ice was discovered by chance by a Tyrolean mountaineer during a tour in 2007. The glacier moves only minimally here, so that development for the general public was possible. Moreover, the Nature Ice Palace at the Hintertux Glacier is only 200 m away from the mountain station of the Glacier Bus 3, making it optimally accessible.

Fascinating ice formations, mysterious passages, chapel-like or palace-like cave rooms - all this can be experienced in the Nature Ice Palace. We are at an altitude of about 3,250 m, only 100 m below the highest point of the Hintertux Glacier. You enter the Nature Ice Palace through the entrance hall, which shimmers in intense turquoise blue color plays. The ice absorbs all colors of sunlight, only the blue tones are reflected. This creates the fascinating white-blue shine that makes the ice appear so pure and clear and beautiful to us.
Through the Firn cone gallery, you reach a frozen glacial lake into the Crystal Chamber, where a multitude of sparkling ice crystals amaze the visitors. Ladders lead down to the Blue Chamber, where the radiant blue of the glacial ice predominates, and to the atmospheric, artificially lit Ice Chapel, a room of fascinating magic. Finally, one reaches the Hall of the Ice Palace, which is located about 25 m below the ski slopes on the glacier. With a height of 15 m and numerous bizarre ice formations, the room inevitably captivates the visitors.

The tour through the wonderful world of the Nature Ice Palace is led by an experienced team. The glacier tourists are equipped with helmet and safety harness, sturdy footwear is recommended, but the entire tour can also be completed with ski boots. Children can participate in the tour from the age of 8.