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On James Bond’s trails. Luckily, the weather cleared up beautifully on our last day. It was the perfect weather to drive up to the Gaislachkogl and the famous ice Q at 3054 meters of altitude. I’ve already given you a little preview in the last outfit post. Now in full length!
up to the ice Q – cable car or hike?
There are several ways to get up to the ice Q – you can either choose the comfortable cable car or hike all the way up. In Soelden there are countless hiking trails, easy and difficult ones. An easy way to get up would be a hike up to the middle station and then take the Gaislachkoglbahn all the way up. The hard version would be the way from the middle station up to the Gaislachkogl – around 1000 meters of altitude up.
At Das Central they’d recommended to take the cable car from the middle station up to the ice Q for sure, because the view is pretty spectacular. Therefore we decided to take the cable car all the way up from Soelden and then hike down. The view was indeed amazing!
On James Bond’s trails & building in extreme situation
James Bond Spectre was filmed up here. Consequently it’s one of the attractions in the Oetztal. Many visitors come up here every day. The futuristic and innovative ice Q was designed by the Innsbruck architect Johann Obermoser. It wasn’t the easiest construction since it was built a frozen moving ground at 3058 meters above sea level. In addition, it required a high thermal insulation for the extreme temperatures in winter. Architecture in extreme situation has succeeded here.
Gourmet Lunch At the ice Q– a dream for alpine gourmets!
A lunch at ice Q was clearly one of the highlights of the weekend. When entering the building you’ll pass the cellar of their Pinot 3000 wine (I’ve told you more about here) until you’ll get to the big restaurant area. Outside there is a beautiful south-side orientated terrace where already a couple sun seekers where sizzling. Upstairs there is a lounge and the roof of the building acts as a viewing platform, which is connects via a suspension bridge with the summit of the Gaislachkogl. The view up there is beautiful and you’ll have a great panorama on several glacier regions in Tyrol – Pitztal, Ötztal, Stubai, Zillertal. Especially in winter time it must be beautiful up here when it’s all white. I’ve already seen some beautiful impressions their website.
From our table we had a dreamlike panoramic view, especially on the Gaislachkogler lake in heart shape. At 3058 meters you’ll be pampered culinary either in ice Q restaurant or ice Q Bistro.
We’d booked a 3-course gourmet menu beforehand, but the bistro menu also looked very tempting. At our neighbour table the ice Q brioche burger with fries and truffels mayonaise (16 €) was serve, which looked amazing.
Prices in Bistro
Soups 8 € | Salads from 8-17 € | Main dishes 12-20 € | Desserts are 5-9 €
Our Gourmet Lunch was a dream:
- Two sorts of Oetztal valley gray cattle tartare or stained salmon trout
- Braised turbot crustacean froth or gratinated saddle of veal cheek
- Lemon and almond cake
The dishes were indeed a piece of art and way to beautiful to eat. I chose the meat option while the other took the fish one. Both menu options were delicious. The fish one was definitely our favourite. I warmly recommend a gourmet lunch on top of the mountain!
Prices of the menu
3 course menu 42 € | 4 course dinner € 48
Climb-down from the ice Q – marmots in sight!
Anyone who thinks that hiking downhill is more convenient is absolutely wrong. My knees and butt thanked me a few days later. The climb-down to the central station was very nice and we passed the Gaislachkogler See, which was in its most beautiful heart shape halfway.
wow, die fotos sind der wahnsinng. was für ein cooles hotel!!
WOW this place looks amazing! The photos are so stunning, I imagine it would’ve been even better in person. What a place for lunch!
Meeeega Fotos! Wir sind im Januar nochmal dort. Freu mich schon so! :)
Bisous
Wow!! Just found your blog and instagram today — totally enamored of it!! What a wonderful life you lead. I’d love to see these Q trails in person. Amazing photos. Thank you very much for sharing!!
XOXO
That looks incredible! The food too!
Hello! First and for most what a great post. It makes me want to travel despite tight schedule.
I wonder if you are willing to impart your photography techniques (i.e., aperture, lenses, type of camera, filters, etc.). I love your pics, its so crisp, sharp and clean. Hope you make a blog of it soon. #fingerscrossed
Das sieht so atemberaubend aus, wahnsinn! Ich erinnere mich, dass ich noch während ich den James Bond gesehen habe, nachgesehen hatte, wo diese tolle Location ist und dann hab ich es aber irgendwie vollkommen vergessen. Sölden ist ja wirklich keine Weltreise, ich werde mir das auf jeden Fall für diesen Winter merken – vielleicht auch für einen Wochenendtrip :) Wie immer sind es auch traumhaft schöne Fotos geworden!
Liebst, Laura von Blondebunana