Brrr-illiant! The 2021 version of the Canadian ice hotel features a grand hall, a bar, 15 themed suites, a large slide – and a wedding chapel

• The 21st version of the hotel, called Hôtel de Glace, is located at the Village Vacances Valcartier in Quebec
• Its theme for 2021 is ‘Quebec tales and legends’ and there is also a suite that is dedicated to ice hockey 
• The hotel spans 30,000 square feet and 15,000 tons of snow has been used to create the incredible building  

It’s as cool as ever.

These amazing pictures show the 2021 version of Canada’s incredible ice hotel, Hotel de Glace, which opened last month and has been rebuilt annually for 21 years using snow and ice. 

It is the only hotel of its kind in North America and this year it includes a grand hall, a chapel where couples can get married, 15 themed suites, six rooms, a large slide and an ice bar.

Canada’s incredible ice hotel, Hôtel de Glace, is built and rebuilt each year using snow and ice. Pictured is the 21st version of the hotel 

The hotel is the only one of its kind in North America. It is located at the Village Vacances Valcartier in Quebec. Pictured is the incredible grand hall 

Inside the beautiful Grand Hall. According to  Hôtel de Glace, the theme of this year’s ice hotel is ‘Quebec tales and legends’

Hôtel de Glace describes the interior for 2021 as a ‘journey to a surreal world’ where ‘snow and ice sculptures are larger than nature and allow you to experience extraordinary optical effects and illusions’. This sculpture can be found in the Grand Hall  

This year, the hotel spans 30,000 square feet and 15,000 tons of snow were used during construction 

This incredible image shows the ice hotel’s beautiful chapel for 2021, where couples can get married 

The thrilling ice slide at Hôtel de Glace. Construction on the hotel began in December, with it taking 50 workers around six weeks to build

The hotel is located at the Village Vacances Valcartier in Quebec – the fifth year it has been built there.

Its theme for 2021 is ‘Quebec tales and legends’. Hotel de Glace describes the interior as a ‘journey to a surreal world’ where ‘snow and ice sculptures are larger than nature and allow you to experience extraordinary optical effects and illusions’. 

There’s a suite dedicated to ice hockey in a tribute to Quebec’s annual Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, which has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, and a ‘Nordic relaxation area with hot tubs and a sauna under the stars’.

Construction on the hotel, which this year spans 30,000 square feet, began in December, with it taking 50 workers around six weeks to build.

Snow is the base material for the building, with this year’s version of the hotel using 15,000 tons of the white stuff, created by snow cannons.

According to Hôtel de Glace, the first step in building the structure is creating the hotel floor, which is almost one metre thick to support the building’s weight.

One of this year’s 15 suites. This one is dedicated to ice hockey and is a tribute to Quebec’s annual Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, which has been cancelled due to the pandemic

Snow is the base material for the hotel and on-site snow cannons are used to create it. Pictured is one of the very cool suites 

Inside one of the suites, with this one boasting a fireplace. According to Hôtel de Glace, the first step in building the structure is creating the hotel floor, which is almost one metre thick in order to support the building’s weight

Hôtel de Glace says its walls are up to 2.4 metres (7.8ft) thick at the base, while some of the ceilings are over six metres (19ft) high

Since the first Hôtel de Glace opened in 2001, two million people have visited, with 70,000 guests staying overnight

In order to stay warm while spending a night in one of Hôtel de Glace’s suites, pictured, guests are provided with Arctic sleeping bags

To build the hotel, snow is ‘blown onto vaulted or domeshaped metal moulds’ and ‘held in place by wooden forms to solidify the structure’ before they are removed a few days later. Pictured is the entrance to the hotel’s rooms 

After that, snow is ‘blown onto vaulted or domeshaped metal moulds’ and ‘held in place by wooden forms to solidify the structure’.

The moulds and forms are then left in place for around three days to allow the snow to harden and freeze before being slowly removed.  

Hôtel de Glace says its walls can be up to 2.4 metres (7.8ft) thick at the base, while some of the ceilings are over six metres (19ft) high. 

This process is repeated many times to create the hotel’s sections before some 2,300 blocks of ice are brought in and used to make furniture, sculptures and ice glasses.

Sculptors use around 2,300 blocks of ice to make furniture, sculptures and ice glasses for Hôtel de Glace. Pictured is its amazing bar 

Inside the stunning bar. In previous years, the hotel has been located near Montmorency Falls, at the Station Touristique Duchesnay resort and at the former Jardin zoologique de Québec

According to Hôtel de Glace, the ‘2021 edition is a real eye-catcher and makes you want, more than ever, to enjoy winter with your family’ 

Each year, the hotel hosts events including weddings, corporate anniversaries, product launches and advertising shoots 

Hôtel de Glace says it offers ‘cultural, historical, geographic and technological diversity while featuring internationally recognised artists’

The incredible bar area at Hôtel de Glace. It will remain in place until the end of March when temperatures begin to rise 

In addition, ‘massive walls of ice, constructed like brick walls, are also built at the ends of some hallways to let light into the structure and create a fantastical effect’.   

The hotel then remains in place until the end of March when temperatures begin to rise.  

Covid-19 travel restrictions have of course made visiting Hôtel de Glace this year a bit tricky, but don’t despair.

There is an interactive 3D tour of the 2020 version of the ice hotel on the Hôtel de Glace website that guests can explore from the warm comfort of their own home. 

Since the first Hôtel de Glace opened in 2001, two million people have visited and around 70,000 guests have stayed overnight. 

In previous years, the hotel has been located near Montmorency Falls, at the Station Touristique Duchesnay resort and at the former Jardin Zuyygoologique de Québec. 

It is estimated that Hôtel de Glace generates more than $10million (£5.7million) each year for the local, regional and national economies.  

Covid-19 travel restrictions have of course made visiting Hôtel de Glace this year a bit tricky, but don’t despair. There is an interactive 3D tour of the 2020 version of the ice hotel on the Hôtel de Glace website 

It is estimated that Hôtel de Glace generates more than $10million (£5.7million) each year for the local, regional and national economy

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