When we were in Bruges we heard about a Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival – the only one of its kind in Europe. Located in Station Square, directly in front of the grand station building, the festival has become a Winter tradition in Bruges which fascinates people of all ages.
This year saw a World first, a unique interpretation of the new Disney film ‘Frozen’, the big-screen comedy adventure. It follows on from last time which saw the Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival create 90 Disney characters to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Disneyland Paris.
Frozen is based on a fearless optimist called Anna who sets off on an epic journey. She teams up with rugged 
mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven, to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal Winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the Kingdom.
This icy wonderland was created by 28 exceptionally talented artists from 11 countries. Using 250 tonnes of ice, it took 5 weeks to pull together this remarkable exhibition in -6 degree temperatures.
We only heard about the Disney association when we bought our tickets. We weren’t sure what we’d see prior to that although the locals recommended we visit. Once inside the building we entered the ice palace through what appeared to be a fire door. A breathtaking sight greeted us on the other side
. The attention to detail was astounding, not just the Disney characters but the ice palace itself. It was incredible albeit a tad chilly!
A few people warmed up at a bar with a glass of something ‘on the rocks’. Others enjoyed a ride on an ice slide which finished by Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. We didn’t stay too long as we didn’t want POD to get cold but wow! What a truly magical experience.
Wow this would be amazing to see 🙂
It was really great Claire – just chilly!
Thanks for sharing with us at the blog hop 🙂
This looks wonderful. Would love to visit something like this. Can see how it could be a bit eerie though.
It was amazing Erica, definitely worth a visit if you come across it. Think the company that puts it together also does sand sculptures! A little eerie perhaps but incredible 🙂
Just wow! It looks stunning, and I’d so love to go. Boo and I went to see Frozen yesterday, so this’d be fantastic x
Thank you Jocelyn – so glad we heard about it. Sounds like Frozen is brilliant, we really want to see it now 🙂
Wow that sounds really spectacular (and absolutely freezing!). I’d love to see it but I guess we wouldn’t have been able to stay long either with z in tow 🙂
It was brilliant Tas but decidedly chilly! I suspect many didn’t stay very long 🙂
Love these pix, love stuff like this – there’s something about ice (as long as I am not having to walk or skate on it!) #WhatsTheStory
Thank you Luci – the detail on the sculptures was amazing. Incredible stuff really 🙂
wow, those pics are amazing, wonderful sculptures (makes me think of Edward Scissorhands, lol) I have to say though, I actually suppressed a shiver while looking, it must have been freezing cold.
Thank you Anne – it was really cold. I don’t think many will have stayed very long 🙂
This looks amazing! Did POD enjoy Frozen? I’m wondering whether little T would want to see it too. xx
We saw Frozen and she really did! She’d not been to the cinema before either 🙂
This looks so amazing, it must have been beautiful, if chilly! What a lovely experience xx
Thank you Sara, it was an amazing show to see – so glad we went 🙂
How lovely Charly! The Disney theme makes it extra magical and your photos are beautiful.
Thank you so much Lou – it was an incredible exhibition 🙂
That looks amazing!!
Thank you – it was wonderful to see it 🙂
It looks absolutely enchanting… I cannot believe how defined the statues are.
What a great visit, despite the cold – visible on POD’s and your hubby’s cheeks! 😉 xx
Incredible what they can do isn’t it! The photos of hubby and POD were taken about 10 minutes after we arrived. Chilly!
That looks totally amazing, how lucky to be in the right place at the right time. Fab photos
Thank you Mary. When does that ever happen! Rarely. So glad we got to see it 🙂
Really beautiful. It’s amazing what people can do with ice!
It really is – apparently the do sand too. Amazing. The detail was something else 🙂
What intriguing statues. So detailed. Love the use of light. looking forward to seeing Frozen soon. #CreativeMondays
They really were amazing Cheryl. We’ve seen Frozen now, it was excellent 🙂
Your photos show how magical the ice show must be. What a wonderful opportunity to have seen them.
Thank you very much Kriss, it was an amazing show 🙂
This looks so fab – what an amazing experience #whatsthestory
Thank you Cathie – was amazing to see 🙂
This looks great, the lighting is really atmospheric too!
The lighting really made some parts of this – incredible detail there 🙂
How beautiful – what a beautiful thing to go to see. Stunning shots x
Thank you Annie – so glad we got to see it. Was chilly but great 🙂
[…] Europe never fail to make you feel festive! While we were there we also got to see the incredible Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival which is based on Disney’s new animation […]
Gorgeous pictures, looks amazing
Thank you Alison – was great although v cold!
Wow looks amazing! I might have to take a trip there next year or something depending on how money is.
You should Rachel – we got to Bruges really cheaply with Eurotunnel. You drive from Calais. Def worthwhile making a visit when this is on 🙂
We visited this a few years ago too! Did it still have the slide made from ice? My kids loved that!
Have just realised that of course it has the slide! Doh!
How funny! It’s brilliant isn’t it. Would have loved to have a go on the slide but our toddler was starting to get cold 🙂
What an absolutely wonderful and amazing display, these sculptors are extremly talented. The use of the lighting is fantastic, I think our children would have been unable to resist the slide. Thanks for linking and sharing sharing with Country Kids.
Thank you Fiona. It was a wonderful display and they worked the lighting incredibly well. Your kids would have loved it! The slide definitely 🙂
Just popping back from #CountryKids 🙂
Thank you Sara 🙂
we went to see Frozen at the cinema today so now i know who the charcters are, and the boys too, i now we would enjoy seeing these sculptures. How amazing are they and so clever too! wow. xx
It makes such a difference being able to see that characters doesn’t it. I hope you enjoyed it, we saw it last week and it was great. The level of detail is something else 🙂
WOWsers… that is simply stunning. I was just thinking how they kept the sculptures from melting and then you answered my question…. -6 degrees. Chilly but very beautiful. What a lovely thing to go and see. X
[…] also got to see the Snow and Ice sculpture festival based on Disney’s film Frozen while we were there. Amazing but very cold at -6 […]
[…] was created by artists from 11 countries using 250 tonnes of ice. It took 5 weeks to pull together this remarkable exhibition in -6 […]