"Spectre", the 24th Bond film, was shot in locations around the world –…
007 Elements and Ice-Q – James Bond's Mountain Playground
Updated on 16.03.2021 in Recommendations
The Gaislachkogel high above Sölden is more than just a mountain. As well as offering breathtaking views of the surrounding area, it is also home to two highlights every James Bond fan will want to see: the interactive exhibition 007 Elements and the spectacular Ice-Q glass restaurant which featured heavily in the 2015 blockbuster Spectre.
On location with 007: Gaislachkogelbahn and Ice-Q
The adventure begins with a ride on the Gaislachkogelbahn cable car up to 3,040 metres above sea level, where keen-eyed fans of the world's most famous spy will recognise the landscape which provided the backdrop for some of the most spectacular scenes in Spectre, the 24th James Bond film. One of the key filming locations was Ice-Q, a spectacular glass restaurant which doubled up in the film as a fututistic clinic high in the mountains.
Glass cube with glacier views
Designed by the Innsbruck-based architect Johann Obermoser, Ice-Q is one of the most spectacular buildings in the Alps and was quickly identified by the James Bond crew as the perfect setting for the Hoffler Clinic. Certain dequences were filmed on location in Tirol, while others (especially indoor scenes) were produced in a perfect replica of the building constructed back in London.
Ice-Q is open to visitors and can be accessed through a tunnel from the top of the cable car. The views both inside and out are majestic, especially on clear days when the snow and glass glisten in the sun. In winter it marks the start of a ski piste winding its way down into the valley. Don't forget to check out the large terraces and the bridge connecting the restaurant to the summit of the Gaislachkogel. This steel construction appears to be floating in mid-air and gives visitors quick and easy access to this 3,048-metre-high peak.
Glass, stone, wood and heavy fabrics provide an interior design style where modern and traditional elements combine to create a harmony of contrasts. On the menu you will find everything from Tirolean and Austrian classics to international favourites.
007 Elements: James Bond adventure world
Following on from the success of the 2015 film Spectre, it was decided that James Bond's visit to the Ötztal Valley should be honoured in style with the creation of an official exhibition called 007 Elements. In true James Bond style, all the exhibition – except the entrance and the spectacular viewing platform – is underground, just a few metres from the Ice-Q restaurant. It was once again Johann Obermoser who was responsible for the design of this interactive exhibition. He opted for a brutalist style and explained his reasoning as follows: "James Bond films always have an archaic element to them, which fits in well with the brutalist style of architecture."
Spectacular subterranean world of concrete and glass
The entrance to this concrete-and-glass underworld is appropriately named "Barrel of the Gun" and has been designed to be reminiscent of the famous opening sequence known and loved by Bond fans around the world. From there, visitors wander through seven themed rooms that have been made in such a way that each can shift individually to adapt to the movements of the permafrost below. In order to preserve this permafrost and maintain a stable structure in the ice and rock, the exhibition rooms are kept cool all year round, so visitors need to wrap up warm even in summer.
Filmszenen, Tech Lab and 007 props
As soon as they step inside, visitors are transported to the world of James Bond. The film music that fills the room and the title sequence from Spectre playing on a screen set the mood for the adventure. Then it's off deeper into the Gaislachkogel, where an interactive mix of film scenes and soundtracks accompanies fans from room to room. Although the focus of the exhibition is on Spectre, with the entire sequence filmed in the Ötztal Valley shown on a huge screen, the heroes of earlier 007 films such as Sean Connery and Roger Moore are also honoured. One highlight is the Tech Lab, where you certainly won't find the words "Please don't touch". Quite the opposite. It is a place where visitors are actively encouraged to try out things like an exploding watch and digital arm scanner with which you can identify yourself as a secret agent. Die-hard Bond fans will be keen to see the many original props on display such as the golden Colt from 1974 and the harpoons used by 007 underwater.
Aeroplane crash frozen in time
The most spectacular of the objects on display is the aeroplane that James Bond flies to pieces in the film during a chase scene and which hangs from the ceiling, suspended in time at the moment of collision. As they make their way to the exit, visitors will agree that 007 Elements is not just for hardcore James Bond fans but in fact has something to offer everyone of all ages. It really is well worth a visit next time you are in Sölden. An experience, as the man himself would say, that will leave you shaken, not stirred.
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Esther Pirchner is a cultural journalist finding out what's trending in music and culture in Tirol's most popular destinations.
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