Sölden in the Ötztal - In the footsteps of James Bond! Part II [EN]
travel·@weitblicker·
0.000 HBDSölden in the Ötztal - In the footsteps of James Bond! Part II [EN]
## Servus dear Steemians! After I told you about the eternal ice in my [first article](https://steemit.com/deutsch/@weitblicker/soelden-im-oetztal-auf-den-spuren-des-ewigen-eis-teil-i), today i continue with the second part about **Sölden** in **Ötztal**. In this article you can expect some action, because **Sölden** was the spectacular location of the current **James Bond** movie **"Spectre"** in 2015. In the **Ötztal Alps** the glacier peaks reach over 3,000 metres above sea level, this is why director **Sam Mendes** chose the breathtaking panorama **Söldens** as the film location. *** [](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmWtYCfdsgUcvfxDEUBEY2RXZngnwv7jDZtyxtc3JVhwRf/S%C3%B6lden7.jpg) **<center>In Sölden you can feel James Bond everywhere</center>** In order to make you familiar with the story, I'll explain briefly why **James Bond** (*Daniel Craig*) travels to **Sölden** at all. **007** visits **Mr. White** (*Jesper Christensen*), a former member of Quantum, whose trail is lost in Altaussee in Austria. **Bond** finds there **Mr. White** in a remote hut by the lake. **Mr. White** declares that he will die in the near future as a result of thallium poisoning. **Bond** can convince **White** to tell him the whereabouts of his daughter **Madeleine Swann** (*Lea Seydoux*), who is supposed to lead the agent to a certain L'Américain, where again the clue to a secret organization is hidden. In return, **White** demands that he protect his daughter and shoots himself. **Bond** visits **Swann** at a mountain clinic in **Sölden**, where she works as a psychologist. **Mrs. Swann** is kidnapped by **Mr. Hinx** (*Dave Bautista*). **Bond** follows the hijackers in an airplane, involving the hijackers' three cars in an accident before escaping with **Swann**. *** [](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdECvgAAKG9rUTGFyic3CouZmBBs1KK16zpZxGBEhaZcu/S%C3%B6lden11.jpg) **<center>The noble Ice Q Restaurant at the summit of Gaislachkogl</center>** The noble gourmet restaurant **Ice Q** is located directly above **Sölden** at the 3,058m high **Gaislachkogl**. The Glaspalast is surrounded by 250 magnificent three thousand meter peaks and looks like a huge ice cube, hence the name **Ice Q**. In the film this location is depicted as a mountain clinic where **James Bond visits Mrs. Swann**. Directly next to the **Ice Q** is the mountain station of the Gaislachbahn, which is also briefly staged in the film as **"Q "** (*BenWhishaw*) flees from a villain in the gondola. The modern Gaislach cable car was reopened just a few years ago and brings winter sports enthusiasts and restaurant visitors to Sölden's beautiful local mountain. *** [](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUWMyP6PoLaLRsXgCSA3uBu4jKe4zDPiScG3uTALjpXE9/S%C3%B6lden10.jpg) **<center>The fantastic panorama of the Ötztal Alps</center>** Inside the summit of the **Gaislachkogl**, a unique **James Bond Museum** was opened a few months ago under the name **"Elements "**. This is where true **James Bond** fans get their money's worth. At the original location of **"Spectre"** you can admire an exhibition of original film objects and animations worth seeing. Who has the necessary small change thereby, can book also a 20 minute helicopter round flight over the **James Bond´s** location in **Sölden**. **Here you can find more informations about the mountain-restaurant [Ice Q]( https://www.iceq.at/)** **Here you can find some interesting making of videos and also any informations about the James Bond museum [„Elements“]( https://www.central-soelden.com/james-bond-soelden.html)** *** [](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQi6Bw1KNgyYas4vcuxdE6nhAdD1EQzo892gxHFBUiDLZ/S%C3%B6lden8.jpg) **<center>This Land Rover Defender can be admired on the slope at Gaislachkogl. In it, Mr. Hinx pursued the agent James Bond.</center>** *** [](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUXhuVp2ViELNpM4z5qMsTw1wgcHuzq5GARvcPQCM2C6z/S%C3%B6lden9.jpg) After **Bond** was tracked down by his enemies in the mountain clinic, he fled the mountain with **Madeleine Swann** in an action-packed chase. This scene took place on the **Söldner Glacierstreet**, which leads to the foot of the **Rettenbachferner** at 2,684 m above sea level. The toll road is generally closed in the winter months, but for Hollywood the road was specially cleared of meter-high snow and made available for filming the action scenes. Because a few Range Rovers were killed in the chase, a total of more than 40 cars were brought up the mountain. Some of the original rovers are on display on the runway at **Gaislachkogl** and can be admired there with their descriptions. *** [](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUEW3LWtXGvpYtt7miU8KpuZQgiYhj5TQXU9kpNPj29L8/S%C3%B6lden13.jpg) **<center>A James Bond Elements gondola takes skiers and museum visitors to the summit of the Gaislachkogel at 3,058 metres.</center>** It's hard to imagine what an organizational effort a few seconds of action film can mean. The **Söldner Bergbahnen** helped diligently with staff and all resources. A total of 600! film crew members were present in **Sölden** at peak times. But the effort was more than worth it. An enormous number of worldwide media mentions of and about **Sölden** in the context of **"James Bond "** and **"Spectre "** represent an incredible image gain for **Sölden** and **Ötztal**. During the presentation at the start of the shooting, director **Sam Mendes** announced to the assembled world press: "*We are taking Bond back to the Alps, to the Snow again, in Sölden in Austria "* An invaluable publicity for the whole place. ## FACTS **What equipment was used on the set?** - 80 trucks with technology and equipment - 80 minivans, 50 pick-ups, 45 range rovers - Two Britten-Norman Islander aircraft - For trucks, trailers and equipment, an area of several thousand square metres was set up near the Gaislachkogl valley station. **How big was the film crew?** At peak times, a film team of up to 600 people worked on the recordings in Sölden. The production was very large even for Sölden, which is familiar with major events. **Where was it shot in Sölden?** - Gaislachkogl middle station: 3S-Bahn station - Gaislachkogl: ice Q Restaurant and summit (3,048 m) - Glacier: road tunnel between Rettenbach- and Tiefenbachferner as well as the adjacent glacier road - The work of the First and Second Unit lasted 15 days. *** **Here you can see an interesting short film about the location:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11AEOn_hyuE *** I hope you guys I was able to give you a certain **"James Bond Feeling "** home with my contribution. The location with its breathtaking panorama is hard to beat. I can understand very well why director **Sam Mendes** chose the **Ötztaler Alps** as "winter scene" for the movie. Should you ever have the opportunity, then I can only recommend you a visit of **Sölden**. A dreamlike winter sports destination with a noticeable hint of James Bond! Greetings, Lukas! *The photos were taken by myself and are displayed in large format by clicking on them.* *** [](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUGKuMz1Z4Ja9HayV1jKzHZonAWJ5WvnZJnx9huJydboa/S%C3%B6lden12.jpg) **<center>The Rettenbachferner, from here the glacier road leads into the valley where the chase was recorded.</center>**