Following from my last post, where we visited the epic operatic stage where James Bond & Mr. White meet in Quantum of Solace, let’s continue to chase 007 in and around Austria.  This next location brings us to Sölden – located in the Otzal Valley of the Austrian state of Tirol, high in the Austrian Alps. It apperas that James Bond loves Austria. We must share that in common.

During the winter months, Sölden is known for it’s skiing – and in the summer, mountain biking and hiking trails.  Everyone walking around town in the summer is carrying a bike or hiking sticks, and I presume ski poles replace those when it turns cold.

For the duration of this post, although Sölden is spelled with an umlaut over the o, I will refer to it as either Soelden or Solden.  All three are commonly used.  I am doing it because my keyboard does not have such a key and constantly copying and pasting one ö is silly…  Thank you for understanding!

1. James Bond filming location: 007 Elements in Spectre

Now.  Back to James. James Bond. 

In 2015’s Spectre, James travels to a health clinic in the Austrian Alps, to look for Mr. White’s daughter – Dr. Madeleine Swann.  She gets kidnapped and Bond pursues them in a prop plane that bursts through a farmhouse.

It is there that Q analyzes Mr. White’s ring, and they first realize the existence of Spectre.

The location of Dr. Swann’s clinic is actually ice Q, a restaurant located around 3,000 meters up in the Alps.

Gaislachkogl, the peak where ice Q and 007 Elements is located, is reachable by cable car or on foot from Solden.  ice Q’s modular, modernist design stands out from the alpine peaks surrounding it.

2. Visit 007 Elements

In July 2018, 007 Elements was unveiled in the building adjacent to ice Q, as a “cinematic installation” dedicated to the James Bond films.  I visited 007 Elements in the first few days after it opened. Being in July, you’d probably forget that it is actually really cold that high up. Most of the 007 Elements staff were wearing large winter parkas inside the exhibition.

Honestly, I would have appreciated if someone offered or warned me about how cold it would be inside the exhibit.  But, besides that, it was a fun exhibit, moving through various aspects of the films or the character.

Admission to 007 Elements is 22 EUR | $24 USD for adults, which does not include the cable car / gondola ticket.  With the round-trip gondola included, that increases to 49 EUR | $54 USD.  Of course, you can always hike from town up to Gaislachkogl – I know that people definitely do.  From my calculations, it should be about a 1,700 meter ascent…. So, either way, it will take money or effort to get to the top.

However, I think the price tag is a little steep for what it actually was.  For example, in the early movies, there was a ski pole gun that James used while skiing away from bad guys.  The ski pole gun is in the exhibit, but it’s not like you can play with it.  So looking at it from afar, while watching a clip of the scene where he uses the gun, is not super exciting.  It’s not 007 Elements’ fault – it’s just not that exciting to see it up close.

While you’re at the top, and since you’re spending boatloads of money anyway, you might as well stop in ice Q for a coffee and an apple strudel, with a view.

3. Parting Thoughts on this James Bond filming location

Part of what makes the James Bond movies so fun is the exotic filming locations. Imagining James Bond in the Alps and other far flung places gives your trip an exciting flair.

Visit 007 Elements if you’re a die hard James Bond fan.  For mediocre fans, it was fun, but was it worth chasing James Bond to the Alps? The scenery was stunning and makes it worthwhile!

If you’re thinking to visit Solden, you absolutely should! Solden is beautiful, and there’s lots to do in the vicinity besides 007 Elements. 

If you’re in the area, which I was, it’s worth it to stop by 007 Elements. However, it’s definitely not the main attraction of your stay in and around Otztal Valley.

For another James Bond filming location in Austria, check out my post on the Bregenz Festival!

4. Information to Visit 007 Elements

007 ELEMENTS | map
Otzal Valley, Austria
Daily 9:00 am to 3:30 pm

Phone: +43 (0) 5254 508 0
Email: 007elements@soelden.com

Online Tickets
Adult admission 22 EUR | $24 USD
Adult admission + gondola 49 EUR | $54 USD
Prices updated 22 December 2019

Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

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The Bregenz Festival or Bregenzer Festpiele is an annual operatic event, which hosts two operas every summer. One opera takes places inside the Festspielhaus (or the Festival House), and one is a famous Opera on the Lake.

1. Introducing the Bregenz Festival and the Seebuhne

The Bregenz Festival is hosted from late-July to late-August, and showcases two different operas.  There are two stages, the Seebuhne (the lake stage) and the Festspielhaus.  But really, the Seebuhne is where the action is at.  The lake stage is exactly that – an elaborate stage built to float on Lake Constance, with the Alps and gorgeous alpine landscape as a backdrop.

The lake plays a role in the story too.  Each opera has a new, larger than life floating stage on the lake which lasts at least 2 seasons.  I’d imagine that the building of such a massive stage warrants the multi-year showing.

Bregenz is located about 8 hours (by train) away from Vienna and less than 3 hours from Zurich.

2. James Bond Filming Locations in Austria – the Bregenz Festspiele

Some of you may know that James Bond has always had an affinity with Austria. Do you remember my post on visiting the alpine offices of Dr. Madeleine Swann in 2015’s Spectre?

A few years before Spectre, there was Quantum Solace (2008). There’s a scene where Mr. White and associates are watching a performance of Tosca and discussing pipelines. James is somewhere in the background watching and listening to them, having stolen one of their earpieces. You may remember it because of the giant eye on the stage.

Now, I wouldn’t say that I intentionally visit places inside movies, but seriously, how cool is that eye and that stage?! And an opera too? It’s definitely one of the most incredible James Bond filming locations in Austria! Sign me up!

3. My first attempt at visiting the Bregenz Opera

In 2013, when I had a summer school program in Vienna, I knew I had to visit Bregenz. Although Bregenz is far from Vienna, I was absolutely determined to visit. Bregenz is located on the western end of Austria, situated on the banks of Lake Constance, where the German and Swiss borders meet Austrian shores.

That year, Mozart’s The Magic Flute was showing.  However, due to … unfortunate, unforeseen employer circumstances, I had to cancel my trip to the Bregenz Opera and thus my ticket.  Luckily, I was able to give away my hotel reservations and tickets to a friend, who happen to be in Vienna for a conference at the same time. 

Behold the absolute magic of what he witnessed – The Magic Flute at the Bregenz Festival.

4. 2018 Bregenzer Festspiele: Carmen

When I was finally able to fit a return to the Bregenz Festival into my schedule, the selected opera on the lake for 2017 & 2018: Carmen, by George Bizet. Not going to lie – one of my favorite operas!

When I arrived in Bregenz, the chance of rain for the night of the performance was about 60%.  The following day, that had risen to 80%.  Accuweather got even more specific. Rain was scheduled to start at 9:30 PM, the exact start time of the show.

When you’re gonna get drenched checking off a bucket list item… ☔️@bregenzfestival @VisitBregenz pic.twitter.com/gjqgWpjHjh

— Lannie (@lannietravels) July 21, 2018

Although I would have loved nothing more than to get dressed up and watch this grand opera on a lake, with the impending thunderstorm, I thought it silly to do so.  I’m really glad I dressed down and brought my rain jacket.  I’m also glad the rain didn’t ruin my camera, which I had to put inside my backpack, on the floor.  I was trying my best to use my rain jacket as a shield and I guess it worked.  Suffice it to say, it rained about 75% of the whole show.  Poor me, yes, but poor performers!  They did an AMAZING job and I thank them for performing in the rain, so flawlessly and beautifully!

The stage was also amazingly constructed!  Now that Carmen’s official run is over, I can give it away some of the details… the cigarette stayed lit and smoking during the whole show.  There were images of playing cards and some videos or photos projected onto the massive playing cards.  There were scenes where people were on top of the cards and repelled down!  Carmen jumped into the lake!!!  What an amazing show.  Absolutely amazing!  Was it fun sitting in the rain?  Absolutely not.  But it was definitely a once in a lifetime experience, and you have to admit, there’s something kinda funny about being forced to be outdoors during a downpour.

5. Bregenz Festival 2023

The 2023 Opera on the Lake will feature Puccini’s Madama Butterly! For anyone wanting to make the journey in 2023, here are the deets:

Practical Information: Visit Bregenz for the Opera on the Lake

• In 2023, Bregenz Festival, or Bregenzer Festspiele, will be from July 20, 2023 to August 20, 2023.
• Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini will be performed.
• Tickets are already on sale.
• Ticket prices range from 30 to 258 EUR ($34 – 288 USD).
• More information and ticket sales is on their website.
• Bregenz is located approximately 2 hours from Zurich by train (19 to 38 EUR | $22 – $43) or a 7 1/2 hour train ride from Vienna (78 EUR | $89 USD).  Fares can be found on the OEBB website.
• I had a very comfortable stay at the Hotel Germania in Bregenz, a 4-star hotel 350 meters away from Lake Constance. Highlights for me were definitely the Finnish sauna and steam bath they had, and my dinner before the festival!

Information updated as of November 23, 2022.

6. Parting Thoughts on the Bregenz Festival

If you’re a huge fan of James Bond (and honestly who isn’t), and an opera fan, and you want to visit some incredible James Bond filming locations in Austria, then the Bregenz Festival is definitely a must! While you’re in Bregenz, check out nearby Solden for a mountain-top Spectre location.

If James Bond isn’t your thing, but outdoor operas or outdoor performances are, the Bregenz Festival is a fun thing to do on a weekend during the summer!  Although cold and drenched by the end, I’m so happy that I finally got to watch my favorite opera, Carmen. To be able to watch it on Lake Constance, with the Alps in the background, even more surreal and magical.  Bucket list: Check!

Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

Click on the blue icons below to follow her on social media!

lanniesfoodandtravel.com/index.php/about-me/