Precious stones from the Bohemian Paradise

The brothers Jan and Václav Fišers from Turnov. Their alleged voyage to Venice, five years of efforts to seize the local secret of secrecy, return to Turnov, dozens of wasted attempts and then - finally success! In 1711 they made the first glass for the production of artificial stones.

THE GLASSHOUSE IN NOVÝ SVĚT

It was in 1712, when Elias Müller built his glassworks on the estate of the Harrach Counts in Jilemnice. It continued in the traditional production of glass, which was produced on the border of the Giant Mountains and the Jizera Mountains in the middle of the 14th century. Even today, you can see not only metallurgical production and blowing glass, but also a hundred-year-old grinding shop. It is driven by a water turbine and transmissions used to distribute the driving force.

ELIAS PALME

Elias Palme, one of the most famous luminaire manufacturers, continued the tradition of chandeliers in Kamenický Šenov. Industrial production of chandeliers was started in 1724 by Josef Palme in Prácheň.

ELDORADO OF BEADS AND SEED BEADS

Surely you would not find in the whole Principle and in the broad surroundings of a person who would say a crooked word about Jan Šourek. After all, it was as if he had come to the Principle of Prosperity and Welfare. As soon as he took possession of the reeve, life in the village began to turn for the better. He was one of the first to venture into the world for business.

JOSEF RIEDEL

Josef Riedel, king of the Jizera Mountains glassmakers, was born in Hejnice in 1816. He was the representative of the sixth generation of the glass family and imprinted his footprint indelibly on the slopes of the Jizera Mountains.

FRIEDRICH EGERMANN

JOSEF PFEIFFER

Josef Pfeiffer - Jablonec entrepreneur and mayor, who was involved in the development of jewelery exports. Everything is confirmed at the imperial court and in 1866 Jablonec became a town during his reign.

BLOWN BEAD and its way to the tree

People can make sense of time and numbers, but not us, beads. However, I have heard that they have been blowing me in the mountains for more than a hundred years. As a bead would put it, that is a long time. You, who have never seen how a bead is born, you don´t know how beautiful life can be....

MELTED GLASS SCULPTURE

In 1920 the first Czech glass school was founded in Železný Brod, thanks to which the town became a center of glass art.

Mapa

Inspired by Crystal Valley

Crystal Valley Week 2025

Liberec - , Liberec, 0 | MAPA


A large summer show of glass, jewellery and costume jewellery from all over the Crystal Valley will light up Liberec in the last week of August.

Dozens of exhibitions and exceptional installations throughout the city, guided tours and fashion shows, along with the opportunity to meet famous artists in person and experience their work for yourself - all this and more will be on offer at the fourth annual summer festival in the last week of August, from 26 to 30 August.

Crystal Valley Week 2025 will bring glassmakers, jewellers and jewellery masters from all over the Crystal Valley to Liberec. Last year, more than 30,000 people visited the showcase of their art, and this year\'s festival under the auspices of UNESCO will be even more enticing.

EXHIBITIONS WHERE YOU DON\'T EXPECT THEM

The Crystal Valley Week show will light up the city at nearly three dozen venues. In the botanical garden, in the historic town hall, in Liberec\'s theatres and in the underground city shelter, art will surprise visitors everywhere. Young talents from art schools from all over the region will be presented in the Liberec Castle. The three generations of the famous glassmaking family of the Olives from Železný Brod will enjoy the beautiful space of the reconstructed Liebieg Palace. Among the exotic plants in the botanical garden, a dozen glassmakers will show their fragile fauna and flora. They all share the common technique of working with a glass blower. The Technical Museum will invite you to an exhibition of historical metal moulds for melting glass, which Jan Pesničák works with. Glass in its many forms will beautify the city and the streets, one of this year\'s festival novelties will be large glass ShowBOXes.

INSPIRATION BY GLASS

The subtitle of this year\'s festival is Glass Fashion. Visitors will find fashion inspiration, for example, at the popular Crystal Market in the Regional Scientific Library in Liberec, but also at two fashion shows in the industrial space of the Liberec tram depot. The interest is huge every year. The models bring out jewellery, costume jewellery and glass on a long catwalk directly between the trams, and the show is complemented by an engaging audiovisual presentation of individual artists from the Crystal Valley. The trams will also join the festival on the tracks in the city. The traditional decorated festival tram will carry visitors for free throughout the event. This year, performed by Preciosa Ornely in collaboration with Martin Pouzar, it will recall the tradition of Czech glass beads.

BECOME A GLASSMAKER FOR A MOMENT

Blowing a glassblower\'s whistle, grinding glass, or bending down to the fire of the stove, it will all be possible. On the square in front of the Liberec Town Hall, as part of the festival\'s permanent programme, there will be a mobile glassworks Kunc Glass and the company AZ-Design, which specialises in glass cutting and painting, will present itself. The Liberec ZUŠ will allow you to try out the sandblasting technique. Glass will also entertain visitors. The more adventurous ones can try walking on the roofs, while others can listen to concerts on glass musical instruments or dance with professional dancers in glass-decorated clothes. There is also a programme for the youngest visitors, with creative workshops throughout the festival. We\'ve presented a few snippets of the Crystal Valley Week 2025 programme. As always, most of the festival\'s glittering experiences will be free.

DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMME WILL BE ADDED ON THE WEBSITE: www.crystalvalleyweek.cz