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In 1995, the jewelry company Swarovski celebrated its 100th anniversary by creating a theme park/museum in Wattens, Austria—not far from the exact spot where Swarovski was founded in 1895. Artist Andre Heller crafted a green Giant with sparkling crystal eyes whose lair houses an ever-expanding “Chamber of Wonders” known as Crystal Worlds—or Kristallwelten—that showcases the beauty and artistry of Swarovski crystal.
The Giant of Crystal Worlds looks out upon a garden that features a fully functional crystal-encrusted carousel, a mirror pond with crystal clouds hanging overhead, and a hand-shaped labyrinth. There is also an alpine observation deck where visitors can gaze through a telescope for a panoramic view of the Austrian Alps with several glittering sculptures in the foreground. One of the most popular sculptures is Prologue III by Fredrikson Stallard—a glittering steel circle punctuated by crystals that emulate raindrops.
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Inside the Giant’s lair, visitors can explore 18 “Chambers of Wonder” which were each created by different artists. One of the most celebrated installations is The Art of Performance—which showcases costumes created by Swarovski for performers such as musician Elton John, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, and actress Marlene Dietrich. The shimmering Art of Performance chamber features crowns and pendants from various films and a replica of Dorothy’s ruby red slippers from The Wizard of Oz.
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The Silent Light installation is another crowd favorite. The wintry Silent Light tree—which is adorned with thousands of crystals crafted to look like snow and ice—was created by Tord Boontje and Alexander McQueen in the early 00s. In 2020, the Silent Light tree became part of the winter-themed Chamber of Wonder that features snow, crystal owls and squirrels, and a thermostat that hovers around 14 degrees Fahrenheit. The Silent Light installation invites visitors to bask in the beauty of winter.
The Silent Light at Swarovski Crystal Worlds, Austria
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Crystal Worlds also features a playground and a playtower where young visitors can frolic. The play tower and the playground are the one section of Crystal Worlds that is not decked out in sparkling crystals. The playtower features four indoor levels of slides, climbing nets, and swings. The outdoor playground is home…
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