Each year for the past 19 years a company in Sweden has constructed a hotel made out of ice. They call it (wait for it…) IceHotel.

It opens around December 15, and closes some time in April. When spring comes the hotel melts. Then Winter comes and they build it again.

The completed Hotel has over 100 rooms and suites, a bar (sponsored by Absolut) and a church. And did I mention that everything is made of ice and snow? Even the drink glasses at the bar are made from solid ice. And yes, that includes the beds.

There is also a real hotel next door that has things like running water, electricity*, and heat. (*There are lights in the IceHotel, but you can’t plug in your phone charger or portable heater.)

Each year the hotel is slightly different. I guess that’s one of the benefits of having your structure melt every year.

I have to say, this is what the Saint Paul Winter Carnival Castle should be like. I mean, it was cool to look at, but it really needed some rooms to sleep in.

The official IceHotel website has a ton of pictures and more details about how they build the thing. To pique your interest, here are a few photos of this year’s creation.

One of the rooms (that’s a bed in the middle)

Another Room

The entryway, complete with an ice chandelier.

This is what the hallways look like before they are decorated.

Source: Science Channel