Gothic ice altar awes visitors in Slovakia's High Tatra mountains

Record ID: 75277

  • Title: Gothic ice altar awes visitors in Slovakia's High Tatra mountains
  • Date: 29th November 2016
  • Summary: HREBIENOK, SLOVAKIA (NOVEMBER 28, 2016) (REUTERS) PEOPLE IN FUNICULAR SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAIN SLOPES DOME STRUCTURE CONTAINING ICE SCULPTURE GOTHIC-STYLE ALTAR CARVED IN ICE VARIOUS OF GOTHIC-STYLE SCULPTURES TOWERS VISITORS VARIOUS SCULPTURES PEOPLE TAKING PHOTOS OF THE ALTAR ICE ALTAR VARIOUS OF GOTHIC-STYLE ICE SCULPTURES (SOUNDBITE) (Slovak) TOURIST FROM BREZOVA, LUBOMIR, SAYING: "I have seen just few shots of this dome on TV but it is much nicer in real life, I can recommend it for all to see. It's really nice." COUPLE TAKING PHOTOGRAPH IN FRONT OF ICE ALTAR (SOUNDBITE) (Slovak) TOURIST FROM STARA LUBOVNA, LUKAS, SAYING: "We didn't know what to expect, but this altar and the sculptures are beautiful. I just wonder how they did it." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE OBSERVING THE ALTAR AND SCULPTURES (SOUNDBITE) (Slovak) DOME GUIDE, JAROSLAV ORENCAK, SAYING: "We have air conditioning in here. When it is hot outside, we let only ten people inside to keep the statues in a good shape. It should last till April." TOURISTS TAKING PHOTOGRAPH IN FRONT OF ICE ALTAR "ICE DOME" STRUCTURE PEOPLE LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 14th December 2016 15:44
  • Keywords: Slovakia ice sculpture gothic
  • Location: HREBIENOK, SLOVAKIA
  • City: HREBIENOK, SLOVAKIA
  • Country: Slovakia
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015AI09X5
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Fifteen sculptors worked three weeks to shape 90 tonnes of ice into a gothic-style altar that opened to visitors last week in the High Tatra mountains of Slovakia.
    Built 1,285 metres (4,240 feet) above sea level in the resort of Hrebienok, the ice dome also serves as a venue for weddings and engagement ceremonies. The ice sculptures inside should last until April.
    Featured are replicas of gothic statues from the nearby Spis region, including a statue of the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus and a statue of Master Paul of Levoca, a 15th century woodcarver who made the world's highest gothic altar.
    "I have seen just few shots of this dome on TV but it is much nicer in real life, I can recommend it for all to see. It's really nice," said one visitor.
    "We didn't know what to expect, but this altar and the sculptures are beautiful. I just wonder how they did it," said Lukas from the Slovak town Stara Lubovna.
    The sculptures are protected by a special tent which keeps the temperature at around minus seven degrees Celsius (20 degrees Fahrenheit) to keep them from melting, according to dome guide Jaroslav Orencak.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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