Story

At first you can't believe your eyes. In the middle of nowhere on the way to Schwarzsee FR, lights of all colors shine out of the winter night. If you follow the light, you will never stop being amazed: In the forest there are palaces and bridges, grottos and enchanted forests - all made of ice. Some of the works of art - that's what you should call these structures - are multi-story, others are very small and hidden. The whole thing is filled with children's laughter.

The creator of this fairytale town is called Karl "Kari" Neuhaus. The man is now 84 years old, and for three decades he created this children's paradise every winter. Somehow the former shoemaker has also retained a childlike soul himself. There is no other explanation for these fairies and princesses, the royal carriage pulled by deer, or the grotto with the deer. "It all started when I was a boy," says Neuhaus. "Back then I built small landscapes with all sorts of things." Then he was inspired by frozen waterfalls, and in the cold season he fiddled with watering cans and garden hoses.

In 1980, Kari built his first large palace in the Schwarzseeschlund, and the French-speaking Swiss quickly dubbed it the "Tinguely des Glaces," the "Tinguely of Ice." It's easy to understand why. Over a length of 250 meters and a width of around 50 meters, one work of art follows the next. Some are populated by fairy-tale characters, others are home to penguins or a polar bear. In between there are snow sculptures, an Ice Age dinosaur, and a pirate ship that has lost its way in the Arctic. Of course, there is also a dragon's cave and ice palms, and a huge staircase leads to the fairy-tale castle. If you prefer something less fairy-tale-like, the ice forest with its icy fir trees and giant icicles reaching into the night is a good choice. It's almost a little spooky there.

Kari has not been active since the fifth winter. His successor is Flavio Catillaz, who is Kari's heir and now builds and operates the ice palaces.