Manufacture of glass jewelry is a craft with a long tradition in the Czech Lands

What would you trade for a bag of Czech Glass Beads?

In the foothills of the Jizerské mountains the old craft of glass bead and glass button makers connected this part of Europe with the rest of the World. These small decorative items found their way by merchants and traders to the furthest corners of Asia and America, and ultimately this area became the biggest glass producer of its kind in Europe.

A visit to the decorative glass bead factory in Železný Brod, which produces hundreds of different shapes and colors of beads, is surprising and entertaining. You will be able to see first hand the process of manufacturing glass beads, as well as browsing through the amazing assortments of different beads in the factory store.

A visit to the glass button factory in Jablonec nad Nisou to again watch the process of glass buttons being made and decorated. This is a process that has not changed a great deal in the last 100 years.

The last stop on this tour is in the Museum of Glass and Jewelry (bijouterie) in Jablonec nad Nisou (maybe this should be the first stop before going to the factories). This museum displays the best of the old, as well as new, glass products made in the Jablonec area.

Altogether, this day trip from Prague take about 8 hours. This can be extended to include stops in some of the other nearby attractions such as the town of Liberec, Ještěd at the top of the Jizerské mountains, or any number of picturesque villages in the area called Czech Paradise. Once you are here, we are sure that you will want to stay longer. So all you need for a bag of beads is a little bit of time away from Prague.

Price includes:

Vehicle with English speaking driver/guide
The cost of fuel, parking highway fees and taxes