Aqua Dome
is a 140-room, four-star-plus hotel and spa complex in Tirol Therme
Längenfeld, the Tyrolean Alps in Austria. The altitude must have had an
effect on the planners and designers because the place is out-of-this
world heavenly.
The services are impressive and the facilities absolutely beautiful
although somewhat counterproductively named with words too difficult to
pronounce unless you speak German. The dome-ceilinged, glass-walled
thermal spring hall Ursprung (Origins) is the main indoor area with two
pools and a huge waterfall. From there, you swim via two canal pools to
the amazing outdoor area, Talfrische (Freshness Valley). With its
illuminated structures and steaming vessels it resembles the
potion-making lab of a gigantic but friendly sorcerer. The two canals
lead to a cone-shaped illuminated tower. From there you proceed to the
three bowl pools that look like gigantic martini glasses. Bobbing in
one of these eight-metre-high bowls that are 12 to 16 meters in
diameter, you can gaze upon the Alps and contemplate your good fortune.
The beauty center and spa are known as Morgentau (Morning Dew), the
rest room (not a bathroom but a room for rest) is called Besinnung
(Reflection) and the view terrace is called Umsicht (View).
Gletscherglühen (Glowing Glacier) is the impressive “sauna world” with
various Finnish saunas from earth lodge and hay sauna to a loft sauna,
a steam cathedral, a salt water (they call it brine) grotto, herbal
bath, ice pool and a panorama whirlpool. The fitness center called
Gipfelsturm (Peak Push), the kids’ area called Alpen Arche Noah (Alpine
Noah’s Ark), the medical center (Medalp 4health) plus several
restaurants ensure that everyone’s needs are met.
Aqua Dome is one of the six
VAMED Vitality World resorts, all located in Austria.
What also impressed us about Aqua Dome are its architecture and its
surroundings. Aqua Dome is located about 70 kilometers from Innsbruck
and 180 kilometers from
Munich in Längenfeld in the heart of the beautiful 67-kilometre-long Tirolean Ötztal valley
known as a thermal springs area since the 16th century. Aqua Dome’s
3000-year-old, 40-degree Celsius sodium-chloride-sulphate-sulphur
thermal waters flow from this ancient valley.
The Aqua Dome is Austria’s largest tourism project of recent years. It
has revitalized tourism in the entire area, long known for fabulous
hiking, skiing, mountaineering and white water rafting.
We don’t know about you, but we’ll climb a mountain or two any day if
the reward is a warm evening spent in one of Aqua Dome’s misty martini
glasses.
By Tuija Seipell