In co-operation with Czech Tourism
Now we have tried blowing glass, or at least Peter has. We visited the Moser Glassworks in the Czech Republic, which was far more interesting than we could have imagined. Here we got to experience the beating heart of the glass factory, test what glass blowing requires from the lungs and check out the most beautiful glass artworks.
Table of contents
Visiting a glassworks in the Czech Republic
We visited the region Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic on a blogging trip, and the Czech tourist office asked if we were interested in visiting the Moser Glassworks. Were we? How fun can it be, looking at some glass? In retrospect, we are very glad we said yes. The visit to the Moser Glassworks in the Czech Republic was much more exciting and interesting than we could have imagined.
Moser glassworks in the Czech Republic
Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic, a town and region with a long history, is home to a number of famous names. One of them is Pupp, a name that today crowns the city's most prestigious hotel, and another is Moser, as in the Moser glassworks. Incidentally, the glasses are still supplied to the exclusive and, to say the least, celebrity-filled hotel Pupp.
Visit to Moser Glassworks in the Czech Republic
We arrived late at Moser Glassworks and they were about to close. Hurry up, hurry up! Well, we made it, and stepping into the large building was an experience. Of course, we have seen glass blowing before, but then it has been a single glass blower at a craft fair. Here it was big business! There was slamming and banging, the fire spouted from the furnaces and the heat throbbed in the room.
Peter tries blowing glass
"Do you want to try?" asked one of the glassblowers. If it had been me (Helena) I might have hesitated, but Peter always says yes. This was the place to blow glass! He blew and blew, and the result was a large round shape. Afterwards he said that he really had to work hard.
More than half are discarded
We don't remember the percentage, but more than half of the blown glass is discarded. All the blown glass arrives on a conveyor belt to inspectors who check whether it is up to standard. Most of it does not. But a lot of glass still slips past the rigorous scrutiny and can be sold.
Museum and shop
The Moser Glassworks in the Czech Republic also has a museum and a shop. Here you can look around among all kinds of beautiful glass. We were most excited about the stylish glass with a silver edge.
A gift
We girls who visited Mosel Glassworks at the same time, me, Daniela from Discovering the Planet and Lina from Liniz Travel & Lifestyleeach received a glass flower to take home with us. A memory from Mosel Glassworks in the Czech Republic!
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Facts about Moser Glassworks in the Czech Republic
- Address: Kpt. Jaroše 46/19, 360 06 Karlovy Vary
- Find here: Karlovy Vary is less than two hours west of Prague. Take bus number 1 from bus stop Lazne in Karlovy Vary to Mozer, it takes 15 minutes.
- Opening hours: The museum is open Monday-Sunday 09:00-17:00. The factory is open for visits between 09:00 and 14:30. The museum and factory are closed a few days a year. The factory is also closed for one week in July for holidays. See the website for current opening hours.
- Prices: Visiting both the factory and the museum costs adults 180 Czech koruna (about 80 crowns). Children pay 100 Czech koruna (about 45 crowns). If you choose to visit only the factory or the museum, the price is lower. There is also a VIP tour for 650 Czech koruna (approx. 290 crowns). Prices are for 2019, see website for current prices.
- Service: There is an opportunity to shop for glass, and there is also a café.
- Read more: You can find more information at Moser.com
Ama de casa says:
What cool figures there outside the place! Yes, glassblower Peter is of course also cool even if I suspect it was quite hot there... 🙂 .
04 June 2019 - 9:41
Helena says:
Haha, yes, it was a bit warm 😉 .
04 June 2019 - 18:08
Emma, sun like sun? says:
The first picture, it is so delicious! I think the slightly cloudy sky was just a plus. And I'm glad I'm not the one who has to go there and clean from time to time! I hardly ever clean the windows here at home ... 😀.
Glassblowing is really interesting, I have been many times at the glassworks in Småland during my childhood and seen a lot, both large and small.
My goodness, what a tough scrutiny they have! You have to wonder whether the glass or the blowers are at fault. And what do they do with the rejects? Do they remelt it? Remember that many times you could buy second-hand goods at the glassworks, but of course, you might not want to put it on the market. It's a question of quality, of course!
How cute your flowers are! Thank you for the nice trip with you!
04 June 2019 - 13:02
Helena says:
Glad you like the picture! And clouds can add a little extra sometimes! ? Yes they scrutinise hard, but maybe that's how it is in the industry, I don't know? Guess and hope that the glass is melted down to new glass!
05 June 2019 - 12:20
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
We already knew that glassblowing is not the easiest craft, but it must have been fun for Peter to give it a try. He doesn't seem to turn down any challenges!
04 June 2019 - 13:58
Helena says:
Hehe, no, he likes challenges! Always says yes 😉
04 June 2019 - 18:09
Daniela | Discovering The Planet says:
So much fun. I would have done it again... and maybe had time to blow a little too :))
04 June 2019 - 14:47
Helena says:
Yes, very fun, and not least that Peter got to try! But cool to walk around and check too! 🙂
04 June 2019 - 18:09
Snows says:
What an interesting and exciting visit. Blowing glass is not easy, I know that after having tried it myself. No masterpieces were produced, I can say...
04 June 2019 - 18:30
Helena says:
Glad you tried it too! No, according to Peter, it was not easy ...
04 June 2019 - 22:05
marina says:
Exciting! Couldn't you take Peter's own blown glass with you? It would have been great to put on a shelf at home!
04 June 2019 - 19:37
Helena says:
We didn't take anything home except photos, but the experience goes a long way! ??
05 June 2019 - 12:21
BP says:
The glass dolls outside the glassworks were incredibly beautiful and innovative. They were also modern, which the glass range was not exactly. They are obviously keeping old traditional glasses alive. Nothing wrong with that at all, quite the opposite in fact.
In fact, one of my first jobs after graduation was at a glassworks that produced both drinking and utility glasses. Unfortunately, it no longer exists. It was also quite exclusive and expensive, so it went bankrupt.
04 June 2019 - 21:42
Helena says:
Yes, much of it is traditional, you may be right! Except for the blokes outside?
05 June 2019 - 12:22
Emma, sun like sun? says:
Nope! My comment has ended up in the spam again!
04 June 2019 - 22:59
Helena says:
Yes it did! I don't know why, but I check there periodically (maybe every other day) so don't worry too much if it happens again. Thanks for your comment! ??
05 June 2019 - 12:23
Emma, sun like sun? says:
I usually look again and read what you write back so I get confused when I can't find my comment that I KNOW I pushed away. Apparently your spam filter thinks I don't write anything good because I end up there sometimes. Sitting and thinking about whether I should take it personally .... *mutter-mutter* ?
Speaking of spam filters, we had an incident this week! Our host X10 decided to put spam filters on e-mails that are sent! Never heard of such a thing! It may be worth knowing that this variant also exists.
05 June 2019 - 17:44
Helena says:
I understand you!!! I also find it extremely frustrating when my comments do not arrive, or if it takes time. I don't understand at all why your comments are marked as spam sometimes ... sigh!!!! (Also, nowadays I have to approve all comments, since we applied to be the responsible publisher). Anyway, I always see them, and I hope the blog will soon realise that it's not spam!!!!
05 June 2019 - 22:36
Helena - Oh darling, let's be adventurers says:
How fun that Peter got to try blowing glass himself! I can imagine that it is not so easy though.
12 June 2019 - 1:06