where was winter castle filmed

Where was the Winter Castle and Is the Ice Hotel in It Real?

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The Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that airs a steady stream of original feature films throughout the year. There is a large fan base for the holiday and winter movie marathons they host every year.

Even though many of these movies are based on identical plots, people keep coming back for the stunning locations and top-notch acting. After all, there are very few people who would rather be at home than at the theatre watching a fresh new release.

One such original film is “Winter Castle,” which was directed by Marita Grabiak and scripted by Barbara Kymlicka, and released by Hallmark. The film’s protagonist, Jenny, is a California native who has lived there for the better part of her life.

Jenny’s sister Meg is getting married in a hotel built completely of ice as a vacation wedding. Jenny is immediately taken with the hotel due to its amazing aesthetic. She like the hotel’s design almost as much as she does her best man, Craig. Later, the plot follows the two main characters as they develop feelings for one another.

The Hotel de Glace in Quebec, Canada was the Set for ‘Winter Castle.’

The Hotel de Glace in Quebec, Canada was the Set for 'Winter Castle.'

Although the movie’s title suggests otherwise, “Winter Castle” wasn’t shot in Sweden at all; rather, it was shot in Quebec City at Hotel de Glace, the only ice hotel in North America. It’s true that you may stay at this hotel and plan your own trip if you’d want to recreate the film’s exciting events.

Melanie Mullen, who portrays the bride-to-sister in the film, spoke with St. Catharine’s Standard about her real-life wedding preparations. The walls, furniture, and even the mattresses in this hotel are all constructed entirely of ice. The shoot took place in early March before the hotel was shuttered for the winter.

Mullen said to the Standard that the structure resembled an igloo. “As one travels farther within the hotel, the temperature drops. It’s slowly seeping into your flesh as you make your way through the several chambers off the main corridor.” She explained that once they yelled “Cut!” the cast and crew would bundle up in coats and sweaters.

Read More: All 25 Stephen King-Based Movies Were Rated, from Carrie to Doctor Sleep!

Tips for Viewing “Winter Castle”

This evening, January 5th, 2019 at 8 p.m. Eastern (7 p.m. Central), the first episode of Winter Castle will air. There will be repeated showings of the film if you miss the initial release. If you want to know when they are, you can simply visit this page and select “Showtimes” to reveal a calendar with specific timestamps.

In addition, for your convenience, we’ve included the rebroadcast timings for this film below. The following dates and times have been confirmed: January 6 at 6 p.m. Eastern, January 12 at 4 p.m., January 13 at 12 p.m., January 16 at 8 p.m., January 21 at 12 a.m., January 24 at 10 p.m., January 26 at 2 p.m., and February 10 at 12 a.m.

Unless otherwise specified, all times are displayed in Eastern time. Go to TV Guide’s listings page to see what channel Hallmark is shown on in your area. Then, under “TV Listings,” select your local provider in the “Provider” field. Scroll down to find out what channel Hallmark is airing on in your area.

You may have a look at the plot summary here: “Jenny, a California native, is overjoyed by her sister Meg’s decision to host her wedding reception in an ice hotel. Jenny is quickly taken with the hotel’s enchanted decor and the hotel’s best man, the dashing Craig.

If they’re meant to be together, will the beautiful winter hotel be the catalyst that finally brings them together?” When Jenny goes to her sister’s winter wedding at an ice hotel, she has high expectations for a wintry romance with the best man, but her dreams are dashed when he suddenly brings a “plus one.”

Emilie Ullerup and Kevin McGarry are the movie’s stars. New Winterfest movies will air on Hallmark Channel every Saturday in January.

On Saturday, January 12, One Winter Proposal will screen, followed by A Winter Princess on Friday, January 18th, Winter Love Story on Saturday, January 19th, and Snowcoming on Saturday, January 26th. At 8 o’clock  Eastern, the films begin (7 p.m. Central.)

Watching the Winterfest films is a must. There are enthusiasts who prefer them to Hallmark’s holiday offerings. If you’re a fan of Hallmark’s romantic comedies, you may want to stay tuned in throughout the month of February 2019 when they’ll screen their Valentine’s Day-themed films.

Every single Saturday night in 2019, a brand new Hallmark film will air.

Movie Set: Winter Castle

  • A Stay at the Quebec’s Hotel-de-Glace

As soon as the teaser for Winter Castle was released, people everywhere were curious: where exactly does this movie take place? The ice hotel seen in Winter Castle can be found in the Canadian community of Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier in the province of Québec.

The Hotel de Glace is located twenty minutes north of Québec City, as its name suggests. It’s the only hotel of its kind in the Americas. Only during the months of January, February, and March is this Winter Castle available for filming.

Before the Winter Castle closed its doors for the season, we filmed there. View the building from the exterior in this image:

You can find a chapel, an ice slide, and an ice-themed bar inside the Ice Hotel. The fact that it melts every year and has to be rebuilt before opening for the winter is a fascinating quirk of the hotel’s history. A picture of the beautiful Ice Bar:

  • The Museum of the Cumberland Heritage Village, Ontario

The majority of the filming for the winter cast took place within the Ice Hotel, while the Cumberland Heritage Museum in Ontario was used for the outside sequences. The entire site was designed with the rural 1920s and 1930s North America in mind.

The Heritage Village is a popular location for filming for production companies looking to achieve a small-town aesthetic. This Winter Castle was also used in the production of Supernatural, It, Newcomers in Vancouver, and episodes of the TV series Huckleberry Finn and His Friends.

The Heritage Village has a railroad station, a school, a blacksmith shop, a garage, and everything else a tiny community might possibly require. Winter brings snow and ice to the landscape, and 30,000-holiday lights give the place a dazzling display. The museum building itself is used mostly as a filmmaking location.