It’s almost time to return to the land of ice-tipped tiaras and sun-loving snowmen! Frozen 2 arrives in cinemas on 22 November and families the world over are looking forward to catching up with Elsa, Anna, Olaf and the gang. But what if you want to visit this fairy tale land in real life? It’s more achievable than you might guess. Here are five Frozen 2 locations you can check out for yourself.
Elsa’s Frozen castle
Snow Queen Elsa’s spectacular fortress of solitude is a key component of Frozen mythology. For inspiration, directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee looked a long way from Old Europe. They were inspired by Quebec’s spectacular Hôtel de Glace, a hotel made entirely from snow and ice. Currently undergoing refurbishment, it reopens on 2 January, 2020. You’ll be able to spend the night in a gorgeously igloo-themed sculpted suite from around 400 US dollars (€363.00). Or, if you prefer a shorter visit, you can enjoy the stunning great hall, chapel, ice slide and ice bar. For extra thrills, hum 'Let It Go' while passing from room to room.
The deep dark woods
Frozen 2 sends our favourite princesses on a mission into the menacing Northern forests. Norway, as it happens, has some of the world’s best-preserved Boreal woodland. Øvre Pasvik National Park is the ideal place to experience the mystery and wonder of these ancient coniferous forests. Sprawling over 119 square kilometres, the park is dominated by Scots pine, shallow lakes and bogland. It's also home to moose, reindeer (during winter) and Norway’s largest bear population. The easiest way to get to Øvre Pasvik National Park – in the far north, close to the border with Finland – is to fly to Tromsø via Oslo. From there you take a bus or one of the iconic Hurtigruten ships that traverse Norway's fjords.
Arendelle
Frozen 2 begins against the familiar backdrop of Arendelle and its castle. There is a real life Arendal in southern Norway, though that low-slung coastal town bears little resemblance to its Disney counterpart (there’s no dramatic palace for one thing). The true inspiration is Norway’s second city of Bergen – a UNESCO World Heritage City and home to the stern Bergenhus fortress after which Anna and Elsa’s pad is clearly patterned.
Troll country
These mischievous-yet-wise beings play a crucial part in Anna and Elsa’s story and will again have a major role in Frozen 2. Troll folklore can be experienced everywhere in Norway. One of the most dramatic examples is the Trollstigen (Troll Ladder) – a switch-back road that passes beneath the Troll Peaks in the famous Western Fjords. According to legend, trolls roam the mountains at night.
The home of Hans Christian Andersen
Without the iconic writer Hans Christian Andersen there would be no Snow Queen and thus no Frozen or Frozen 2. He was born in Odense, where his childhood home has been converted into a museum in his memory (Hans Jensens Stræde 45). But he lived much of his adult life in Copenhagen. A statue of the writer now stands outside the City Hall. Other Andersen landmarks include the famous Little Mermaid statue, the Royal Danish Theatre (Det Kongelige Teater), where his early plays were performed, and the colourful waterfront houses at Nyhavn, where he rented and wrote classics such as the Princess and the Pea.
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