In 1895 Daniel Swarovski and two others started a crystal cutting business in Wattens Austria (10 miles east of Innsbruck). The company now employs about 25,000 and produces a wide range of jewelry, chandeliers, watches, and figurines. To commemorate their 100 year anniversary, the company had a multimedia artist create an attraction called Swarovski Kristallwelten (crystal world) in a park like setting in Wattens. It is hard to describe. Words like modern, contemporary, and totally unique come to mind. If you like jewelry and contemporary art, you would probably give the Crystal World a high rating. If you are scientific and have an appreciation for the science of crystal formation and interaction with light but little interest in modern art, you might give it a medium rating. If you have no appreciation for fine jewelry or modern art or the science of crystals, you would probably think you wasted your money ($21 entry fee). The ratings/reviews for the museum are all over the map (understandably). Each room in the museum and area in the park was created by a different artist with various themes, but almost all are centered on themes involving crystals is some way. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.
View from the Crystal World park toward
the Swarovski production facility.
The museum is housed behind and
beneath the Crystal World "Giant".
The entrance is on the left under the face.
Some pictures from inside the museum.
Life size crystal studded horse.
From inside a kaleidoscopic dome (inside of a crystal).
Crystal art
Room combining crystal shapes with
changing colors and images from world history.
Crystals, color, and reflections.
Crystal studded dress in the custom item exhibit hall.
Crown for Elton John
Swarovski crystals
Crystal studded crown
There was a football field sized jewelry shop
at the exit from the museum to the surrounding park.
Crystal World childrens play tower.
Garden maze.
Hand with heart on the palm.
Reflecting pool with crystal studded trees
Walkway into the reflecting pool.
You are waist deep in water at the far end.
Water is 1 inch below the sides.
Now - what is your rating?
Art of a different kind at the Ferienwohnung
(vacation apartment)
in Bad Reichenhall Germany (near Salzburg Austria).
