Attraction of Tyrol

Less than a half hour bus ride from Innsbruck, Wattens is a small town surrounded by picturesque hills and it is the home of Swarovski Crystal. In 1895 Daniel Swarovski started his business with the invention of special precision cutting technology which produced high quality crystals used in jewellery, fashion and decorations.

As well as the factory where crystal is produced and shipped all over the world, Swarovski has turned their site into a major tourist attraction with the Kristallwelten or Crystal World Museum. Museum might not be the right word, instead Kristallwelten is more a combination museum/art gallery/exhibition hall and even that doesn’t quite paint a true picture. Most of the exhibits and displays are very contemporary, even futuristic and at times I was a bit lost trying to understand the message or significance of some of the displays.