Innsbruck & the flagship Swarovski shop...

I was fortunate enough to travel to Austria, Germany & Belgium in December to visit the Christmas markets & to take in city tours of Munich, Salzburg & Innsbruck.

I was delighted to join a tour of the Swarovski shop in Innsbruck. It has been owned by the same family for 5 generations.  The outside belies the stunning wares inside.

Step inside to be met with 'Carefully made by hand from paper and finished with sparkling Swarovski crystals. Set-designer Rhea Thierstein created this new installation called “Radiant Light”.

Some of the jewellery is absolutely amazing, most of it is too glamorous to be worn by us mere mortals but there is no denying the beauty of the crystals which absolutely glimmers & shimmers. 

The display alongside the 3 storey stairwell is ‘Lily Pond’ by Susanne Rottenbacher , inspired by Monet’s water lilies 

The staircases are the closet to Hollywood glamour that I will get - by Vincent van Duysen. The stairs are made up of 20 000 crystals & they shimmer   ...

CASCADE by Vincent van Duysen
Below, visitors are bathed in light emanated by the CASCADE chandelier, which was created for Swarovski Crystal Palace by Vincent van Duysen. The opulent piece, which is almost five meters tall, flows down from the ceiling like a waterfall. It is made up of strings of crystals combined with LEDs, so celebrating crystal and light in their most beautiful form, and tying in with the great tradition of the chandelier. CASCADE was used as a prop in the film “Ocean’s Thirteen” starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt in 2007.

An art display by the French designer Shourouk Rhaiem used Swarovski crystals to embellish everyday items. You will not look at your shopping trolley the same way again. All I could think of was how many crystals were used ... 

A truly extraordinary shopping trolley

Nutella anyone?

Amadeus ...

Breakfast time?

I loved the Christmas decorations & baubles ...

I bought the Mayflower ring for youngest daughter for her birthday last year - there is a less elaborate one on the far left, hers is the one next to it ...

I loved Innsbruck & the sleety weather did not distract from the stunning city - I would have loved it with heaps of glistening snow but how can you not appreciate the architecture ... 

Beautiful spires ...

The Christmas markets bring people out to celebrate, socialise & shop in the run up to Christmas

History is evident on the buildings ...

I love this style of buildings ...

The Swarovski shop ...

 I would love to people watch from that balcony ...

 The Goldenes Dachl / golden roof is an important tourist attraction in Innsbruck. It was completed in 1500 & has 2,657 copper tiles that glisten on the roof ...

Lovely traditional outfits for sale everywhere ...

I love photographing scenes through archways as they frame the subject matter ...

I fell in love with the beautiful castles & turreted buildings that we passed; they are fairy tale scenes

I hope you have enjoyed these scenes too, thank you for your company at this busy time of year,

Dee ~💕~