Crystal Valley: home to traditions inscribed on the UNESCO list
From Unique Glass Beads to a Global Triumph of Glassmaking
The Crystal Valley is a place where traditions recognised throughout the world are still practised today. Two glassmaking traditions, which have their roots in this very region, are inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity: the production of Christmas decorations made from glass beads and the craft of hand-blown glass.
A Story from Poniklá: Where Christmas Miracles Are Born
The first major milestone came in 2020, when the world recognized the uniqueness of handcrafted Christmas ornaments made from glass beads. This craft has been practiced in the Krkonoše village of Poniklá for over a century, and the Rautis company is the last place in the world where this tradition has been preserved in its original form.
Global Recognition: Handmade Glass as Intangible Cultural Heritage
At the end of 2023, more fantastic news arrived. UNESCO added handmade glass as a whole to its list. The Czech Republic initiated this joint nomination, which brings together glassblowing, cutting, engraving, painting, and costume jewelry making into one fascinating whole.
More about the inscription of handcrafted glass on the UNESCO list