The most visited winter attraction in the Tatras is opening its doors for the 12th time. The organisers of the Tatra Temple of Ice have decided to dedicate this year’s masterpiece of ice to the memory of Pope John Paul II on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of his visit to the High Tatras.
The Holy Father visited the Slovak side of the High Tatras in 1995. While doing so, he rested in a pavilion near the Sliezsky dom mountain hotel, flew by helicopter over the Tatras, and personally blessed a wooden cross as well as symbols of mountain rescuers – a rope and an ice axe. The personality of Pope John Paul II will be remembered in the Tatra Temple of Ice not only by his portrait carved in ice but also with buildings that played an important role in his life. This means the Wawel Cathedral, where he was consecrated a bishop in 1958, and St. Adalbert’s Church, where he prayed for many years during his service in Krakow.
“We have long been thinking about a theme that would unite the residents and visitors from both sides of the Tatras. The message of Pope John Paul II saying that ‘the Tatras do not divide, but unite,’ along with the 30th anniversary of the Holy Father’s visit to the Slovak side of the Tatras was a clear argument for dedicating the 12th edition of the Tatra Temple of Ice to his memory,” said Lukáš Brodanský, the manager of the Vysoké Tatry mountain resort.
The Tatra Temple of Ice has been built again at Hrebienok at an altitude of 1,285 metres. The structure made of 1,800 ice blocks weighing a total of 225 tonnes is placed under a dome-shaped cover with a diameter of 25 metres, where a constant temperature of -3 to -10°C is maintained. The constructing team consisted of 20 artists and sculptors from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany, and was led by Adam Bakoš from Slovakia. “This is the first time that the ice temple is more spread out to make a more authentic impression on the guests. It occupies a larger area and includes several new elements, such as the gabled roofs of the cathedral, which we have created in this form for the first time,” said Bakoš.
“I think it’s a brilliant idea because Wawel is number one for Poles. It was the seat of the Polish kings, it was the capital of Poland. The entire ice structure was brilliantly designed and executed. It’s an honour for me to have participated in this project,” said Polish sculptor Janusz Wedzicha.
Visitors will see the western and southern sides of the Wawel Cathedral as well as three towers: the Silver Bell Tower (Wieża Srebrnych Dzwonów), the Clock Tower (Wieża Zegarowa) and the Sigismund Tower (Wieża Zygmuntowska) once they enter the Tatra Temple of Ice. This year, everybody will once again have the chance to experience the atmosphere of the ice temple among the ice walls and walk through the gate to the ice version of St. Adalbert’s Church. The Clock Tower features a single-hand clock showing the time of Pope John Paul II’s death – 9:37 p.m.
The Tatra Temple of Ice will be open to the public from 15th November 2024 to 21st April 2025. During the entire winter season, visitors can look forward to 11 concerts held inside. Hrebienok is easily accessible by the funicular running from Starý Smokovec. If the conditions are suitable, the 2.5-kilometre-long floodlit sledge track from Hrebienok to Starý Smokovec will be available too.
