Snow buildings are no new invention. You can visit various kinds across the world. There are Ice bars in London, Stockholm, Tokyo and plenty of other cities. Huge thermal capes are compulsory and there’s even a full blown ice hotel in Sweden. Nothing even comes close to the majestic Snow Castle of Kemi in Finland though.
Different every year
This incredible fortress is rebuilt from scratch each winter. The architecture is never the same. The only continuity is seen in the form of the restaurant, chapel and hotel which feature in the (ice) blueprint every year.
The Snow Castle of Kemi’s size
Over the years, the area consumed by the castle has varied from between 13,000 and 20,000 square metres. With walls over 1,000 metres long and towers climbing over to over 20 metres in height, it has even had three storeys in some years.
The chapel can seat between 50-100 people and has been the venue for many weddings, with brides and grooms hailing from as far away as Hong Kong and Japan. The hotel more than caters for their post wedding needs. There are some super special honeymoon suites, each of which is individually decorated by local artists using locally sourced materials. The restaurant is filled with impressive ice sculptures and the table cloths are made from reindeer fur. There’s also mood lighting creating the perfect ambiance as it glitters on the icy surfaces.
Something for the kids
It doesn’t stop there, you will also find an adventure land for children with a snow tube slide and a merry-go-round. Enjoy ice art exhibitions along with a theatre where opera singers and dancers have been known to perform over the years. All of this means it appeals to visitors of all ages.
When is it built?
The construction of the next Snow Castle will begin in December and will take plenty of hard graft before it is completely finished. Normal snow is too soft and wet to be used in the construction, so snow is purposely produced using snow pipes and sea water. It works most effectively when the air temperature is a shivering -7°C. Five weeks later, the glistening fortress will be finished, just in time for the grand opening.
Added to your travel bucket list? We thought so!
