In Slovakia’s High Tatras, one of the region’s main winter attractions — an ice dome — has been traditionally opened ahead of Christmas, the region’s tourism portal reported.
The Tatra Temple of Ice lies on Mt. Hrebienok. This year, the temple pays tribute to two popes — the late Pope Francis and his successor, Pope Leo XIV.
The head of the project is sculptor Adam Bakoš, who led a team of ice artisans from Czechia, Slovakia, Poland and Germany.
The ice dome reflects the style of the famous Roman Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, recognized as the main Catholic church and one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Rome.
Visitors can see the ice façade, the papal throne, carved doors, and figures of the apostles. Inside, there are portraits of six pontiffs, including Francis, Leo XIV, and Benedict XVI. For those who enjoy details, there is a mini-quest to find five hidden ice edelweiss flowers. The dome is also decorated with glass elements by artist Achilleas Sdoukos.
The ice temple is 10.7 meters high. It took 25 days to build, using 225 tons of ice, which was formed into 1,800 ice blocks.
In the evening, the temple looks especially impressive, illuminated by soft colored lights. Each hall has its own shade: blue, purple, red and fuchsia. The ice artwork will be on display until April 19, 2026.
