Visit the Swarovski Kristallwelten in Austria

Outdoor sculpture gardens are one of my favorite ways to experience art. Austria is home to a spectacular museum that also offers art, gardens and a lovely play area for children. The Swarovski Kristallwelten (translates to the Crystal Worlds) is located in Wattens, Austria. If you are near Innsbruck you should definitely add this to your itinerary. Swarovski is an Austrian producer of glass based in Wattens in the Tyrol. 

Related: What to expect from your Lanserhof, Austria visit

About The Crystal Maker

Swarovski was founded in 1895 by Daniel Swarovski. The Swarovski company has grown to have a global reach of approximately 3,000 stores in roughly 170 countries, more than 29,000 employees, and a revenue of about 2.7 billion euros. I know them for all the sparkly fashion they have created for pop stars (Katie Perry), world class gymnasts (like Simone Biles) and of course, legends like Elton John.

Somewhere along the line, the brand decided to create a cultural touchstone in The Alps to celebrate their success, share their vision and connect with brand fans. 

If you were wondering, Swarovski glass is produced by melting a mixture of quartz sand, soda, potash and other ingredients at high temperatures. They make incredible jewelry, ornaments and home accents.

About the Museum

If you think a crystal-themed museum sounds cheesy, think again, This place is incredibly classy and has some very sophisticated art. It opened in 1995 and has been a cultural phenomenon since then.

To start your visit, head to the ticket office and then make your way to the fountain with the big grass-covered head. This is where you’ll enter the museum portion. The museum is well planned and gorgeous.

Some showcase elaborate Swarovski creations, and others are more immersive experiences. There are 18 rooms in all and each is a new way to discover and look at crystals. My favorite was the 4th room called the “Art of Performance” that highlighted the fashions featuring Swarovski designs. There were pieces worn by Katy Perry, Beyonce, Elton John and more.

I also loved the wintery wonderland called “Silent Light” (room 2) with snow falling from the ceiling and the room with a working model train on a crystal mountain called “Studio Job” (room 11).

When you exit the museum, you’ll leave through the shop. It’s a splendid opportunity to shop for gifts and treats for yourself. We picked up some stunning ornaments.

Video Tour of the Museum

The Kristallwelten Gardens

While I adored the museum, for me the real draw is the garden. The Swarovski team commissioned a series of art installations to fill the valley. The central point is the Crystal Cloud. It debuted in 2014 and is made up of 800,000 crystals. With a surface of around 1,400 square meters, this mystical masterpiece is the largest work of its kind in the world. Visitors can approach by multiple angles and I suggest exploring them all. Take a lap around the piece and watch how the light dances off the art. Then walk down the cut out path and sink into the pond as you see the art reflect off the water. 

If you get a sunny day, it’ll be a veritable light show of sparkles. But even with clouds, this piece is hard to dim. The artwork was created by Andy Cao and Xavier Perrot. 

Exploring with Children

After touring the art, you can head to the playground area to let you kids climb and spin and slide. Take a walk through the elevated alpine garden and then head to the carousel.

Spanish designer Jaime Hayon has designed a cool black-and-white carousel. Rides are included with the ticket price. It doesn’t end there. The children’s area includes a hedge maze. Artist André Heller created a maze that is shaped like a hand. 

Getting to the Museum

You can get tickets online or at the ticket booth. Parking is free. You can bring your own picnic, but you can’t bring them inside the gated garden. For lunch, head to the Daniels Restaurant, it’s got both indoor and outdoor seating, and looks fantastic.

Open daily from 9am to 7pm. Last entry is 6pm

Swarovski Kristallwelten is located at Kristallweltenstrasse 1, 6112 Wattens, Austria. The closest city is Innsbruck and that’s where we stayed.

Visit swarovski.com/kristallwelten for more details.

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