A very interesting place to visit with a child is in the spa town of Karlovy Vary. This is the Moser glass museum, which is no less than a century and a half old! It is worth noting that for the first 60 years, its founder, Ludwig Moser, was at the helm of the world-famous Glassworks. The captain has long gone down in history, but the Moser company continues to maintain the good old traditions of its ancestor.
So, why should you and your child visit the place where some of the most expensive and famous glass products in the world are made?
Firstly, the Museum of Glass operates on the basis of the Moser plant, where many rather interesting expositions are presented. This is the history of the development of the glass business of the Moser family from the very first days of its foundation, and an exhibition of glass products of the company, and stands with completely unique and rare gizmos made of thin glass of various textures and shades. Here you and your young traveler can see not only classic wine glasses made of sonorous crystal, but also unique compositions made entirely of glass.
In the Moser Glass Museum you will be interested from the very first minutes, because literally crossing the threshold of this cultural institution, you find yourself in Magic world fragile transparent material, shiny and iridescent with its faces. Here, at almost every step, there are original flowerpots with large fragments of multi-colored glass, here and there fountains are beating, decorated with stones left over from production.
Be sure to walk through the expositions with your child and show him the products from the collections of different years. One of the strongest impressions on visitors is the uranium colored glass soft green tint. Unique gizmos from this material were sculpted using uranium paint mined in local mines.
However, a visit to the Museum of Glass is only a prelude to the main action. Ahead of you is an excursion to the factory workshop, where the child will be able to observe with his own eyes the process of blowing fragile glass products. To see how crystal melts, how master glassblowers create real masterpieces from a shapeless mass: vases, glasses, glasses, how they manually blow out a structure, cut it off, put it into shape ... You should definitely look at all this once with your own eyes. After all, in fact, a small workshop of one factory supplies the whole world with amazing glass products!
If you want to buy something to remember your visit to the museum and the factory, then the store that works directly at the factory is at your service. Here is a wide range of Moser products for every taste and wallet size. We recommend this tour for school children.
The Moser Museum in Karlovy Vary is the "family nest" of the famous Bohemian glass. During our vacation, I doubted whether it was worth going to the Moser Glass Museum, which is so popular with tourists, but in the end it was decided to visit this attraction as well. As a result, not only did I not regret it, but I was incredibly impressed with the glass production workshop. But more about everything in my review below, as well as how to get to the Moser Museum, how much the entrance costs and other useful information for visiting.
Moser Museum Karlovy Vary - a brief history
Ludwig Moser was born in Karlovy Vary, where he completed his schooling as a glass engraver. At first he worked as a salesman in a store, but at the age of 24 he decided to open his own business.
In 1873, the products of the plant at the world "glass" exhibition in Vienna received a medal thanks to the refined engraving of the master. In addition to engraved glass, Moser also offered glass decorated with gold enamel.
In the field of glass decoration at that time it was an absolute novelty. And when, in 1878, Moser sent a collection of items covered with gold to world exhibition to Paris, where he was a huge success. French criticism appreciated artistic glassware that imitated Arab jewelry techniques.
Bohemian glass from the Czech Republic became known to the whole world. Business took off. The Moser glass factory grew and expanded.
Today, a museum has been built on the territory of the first Moser factory in Karlovy Vary, but the factory itself continues to work. You can even visit a workshop where glassblowers blow beautiful glassware.
Moser Museum in Karlovy Vary - our review with photos
Having walked from the stop for a couple of minutes, you come across a fertile view that does not at all resemble any plant.
Unusual glass elements are placed throughout the territory. Straight ahead, a small building is the entrance to the museum.
In general, the entire territory of the plant is very well-groomed and leaves the most pleasant impressions.
Moser Museum in Karlovy Vary is an exhibition of several rooms, which present a variety of unusual glass products of incredible beauty. In one of the halls there was such a wonderful glass miniature of the plant.
The museum provides an audio guide in different languages, including Russian. Also in each hall there are screens with short videos, which tells the life story of Moser himself, as well as his famous factory.
But the real pleasure when visiting the museum, of course, was the factory itself, where to this day you can see how glass is made. This process is incredibly exciting and literally hypnotizing.
Let's go through the most bright moments factory tour.
The workshop itself is quite hot due to the numerous furnaces in which sand is melted. The temperature in the furnace is 1200 degrees, and looking at this infernal flame, for some reason I could not get rid of the thought of cremation.
A portion of the molten material is taken from the furnace with a long tube and with light blows, so to speak, the product is blown out. Near the place of the master there are wooden molds, where still hot alloy is lowered. These forms are set and held, if necessary, by assistants, exclusively women for some reason.
Another member of the team (together with an assistant there are four of them) makes legs or some other separate parts, which are then also “welded” to the manufactured product.
In the end, with a kind of grip, which in the old days they put cast-iron pots in the stove, the assistant takes the finished product, and as soon as possible carries it to the refrigerator. At the bottom he presses the pedal and the drawer opens, where the newly made glass or vase goes.
The temperature in the chamber is about 40 degrees, the cooling time is an hour and a half, after which the product passes quality control. If the glass is flawed, then it is sent back to the furnace for remelting. In one hour, the team "blows out" 13 glasses, 20 glasses or 3 large vases, I counted about 10 teams in the workshop.
I was especially interested in how several parts of one product are connected, and the craftsmen showed this perfectly with the example of a glass pig, which enchanted the audience around.
First, the master with glasses (by the way, he is on all the avenues of Karlovy Vary about the museum, I only noticed later what a celebrity he is, comparing with his photos) blew a ball, just a ball. Then the second master brings the molten glass to "drop" it on the finished cooled element.
A particle of the still burning alloy sticks to a cold glass product, and the required amount is “cut off” with special scissors.
After that, the desired shape is given with the same "scissors", in this case pig ear :)
At the stage of “gluing” the tail, the audience was already undisguisedly squealing with delight))) I was also fascinated by such an elegant work, it’s amazing to watch how, in just five minutes, a fragile transparent funny pig is born from a molten brew like lava))
By the way, glass acquires a green tint due to copper and iron oxide. Blue color is obtained due to the admixture of cobalt, and violet is such a rare metal as neodymium.
Young people are trained as glassblowers right here in the workshop for three years. After the former students become an apprentice for five years. And only then already the master. Actually, in my photos above you can see that in each brigade there is one “foreman” and two young men.
At the end, you can visit a shop that sells magnificent glassware. The chandeliers are especially impressive, but the prices, of course, bite.
The smallest chandeliers cost from 14,000 CZK, medium - from 33,000 CZK (that is, almost 100 thousand rubles). Glasses can be found for different budgets, but something more or less worth it will cost at least 5,000 crowns.
Information for museum visitors
Ticket price for the Moser Karlovy Vary Glass Museum
The entrance to the museum is different for adults, children and students. Moreover, the ticket price depends on what exactly you want to visit. The cheapest way to visit is the museum itself. An excursion to the workshop for the production of the famous Czech glass will cost more. But trust me it's worth it! You can buy a double ticket with a visit to the museum and the factory itself.
Here are the prices for entry tickets to the Moser Museum:
- For adults: 80 kroons - museum, 120 kroons - glass shop, 180 kroons - combined ticket to the museum + glass shop;
- For preferential category(children, pensioners, students, disabled): 50 kroons - museum, 70 kroons - glass shop, 100 kroons - combined ticket to the museum + glass shop;
- For families (2 adults + 2 children): 180 kr - museum, 260 kr - glass shop, 390 kr - museum + glass shop combined ticket.
At the same time, the price of tickets includes an excursion. In the museum, the tour is conducted with the help of an audio guide (available in Russian). But in the workshop, a museum employee conducts a tour (he also speaks Russian).
Opening hours
The Moser Museum in Karlovy Vary is open from 9:00 to 17:00 daily, including weekends. The glass production shop itself is open from 9.00 to 14.30 daily, except Sunday. Accordingly, tours of the plant itself are held only from 9.00 to 14.30 according to the shop's work schedule. At the same time, workers have a break from 10:30 to 11:15. The factory is also closed for holiday periods from 14 to 25 July.
How to get to the Karlovy Vary Glass Museum
The glass museum in Karlovy Vary is located quite far from the city center, well, by local standards, because. the town is small. We reached it in about half an hour on foot, guided by the maps (below I also posted a map with a museum label). Back on such a feat did not want to waste time at all, because we drove to the center by bus.
There is a bus stop right next to the museum. Moser, where the only route number 1 stops. Accordingly, you can get to the Moser Museum in Karlovy Vary by bus number 1 from the main stop Trzhnice, or take it at the spa 3 (Lazne III). A ticket can be purchased directly on the bus, I told you more about buying tickets and transport in Karlovy Vary in a previous article.
Bus number 1 in Karlovy Vary runs every half an hour, i.e. only two buses per hour. With the same interval back, so a visit to the museum should be planned so as not to languish in a long wait at the bus stop.
Museum Moser Karlovy Vary on the map
On the map of Karlovy Vary sights, I marked the Moser Museum with a purple mark of a factory with pipes. It is located at a distance from other attractions, so I doubted very much whether it was worth devoting time to it, but in the end I never regretted that I visited the Moser Glass Museum.
Moreover, the trip to the museum on public transport takes only 10-15 minutes, so getting there is absolutely not a problem.
Moser glass products (Czech Moser) are the pride of Czech Republic. Luxurious crystal glass has been handcrafted for over 150 years.
IN late XIX century in Karlovy Vary, an unknown glass factory was opened, which no one predicted success, since several crystal manufacturers with long-term traditions were already successfully operating in the city. However, the owner new factory Ludwig Moser was a man with an entrepreneurial streak, and over 60 years of running the factory, he became not only the most famous glass manufacturer in the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire, but also won love and recognition. royal families, which is why Moser glass is called royal glass.
Moser Glass Museum in Prague
On the main square of the capital there is a museum of the Moser company. Among the exhibits there is a collection of the finest crystal products that reflect the development of glassblowing skills and showcase amazing work. contemporary masters. A separate place is occupied by tools and items necessary in the process of making crystal products, learn more about the work the best craftsmen the Moser factory will help with a video that demonstrates the elegance and beauty of this craft.
Particularly noteworthy are the famous crystal goblets, decorated with amazing coats of arms and banners of royal dynasties, as well as a crystal model of the Moser factory in Karlovy Vary.
Getting into new town, the first thing travelers go to sightseeing tour in order to better understand where they ended up at all, and find out what is worth seeing here. Such excursions usually cost from €10-15 and reach up to €45-60, but you can also find absolutely free options. Here are some of them.
Free tours in Prague
Daily 3-hour free walking tour of Prague's top sights. The old city, museums and cathedrals, synagogues and bridges… Pass 3 times a day, you can register in advance.
1 /1
The address: 119 08 Prague 1.
Working hours: open from 5:00 to 24:00.
1 /1
St. Vitus Cathedral
The most famous cathedral of the city, the vaults of which can be seen from different parts of Prague, it is so majestic and picturesque, a real gem of Gothic art.
Free admission to the front of the cathedral fence.
The address: III. nádvoří 48/2, 119 01 Prague 1.
The Charles Bridge
An old picturesque bridge in the very center of the city. It was built for almost 25 years in the distant XIV century and was named after the founder - Charles IV. Today, the bridge is the heart of the city, it offers a beautiful view of the old center, the Vltava River, it is decorated with ancient sculptures, and therefore it is not surprising that it is never quiet and boring here.
The address: Karlův most, 110 00 Prague 1.
1 /1
Wenceslas Square
The central square of the city, which is "headed" National Museum and a monument to St. Wenceslas. Restaurants, shops, museums are located along the square; life here calms down only late at night.
The address: Wenceslas Square, 110 00 Prague 1.
Old Town Square
Another lively and picturesque city center. The square is hidden in the center of the old part of Prague, surrounded by baroque, rococo and renaissance houses. There are also ancient sculptures, City Hall, And Prague chimes and, of course, souvenir shops, street musicians, cafes and much more.
The address: Staroměstské nám., 110 00 Prague 1.
Visegrad
A district of Prague located on a hill above the Vltava. Vysehrad was the residence of the Czech princes and remained the capital until Prague was built. On its territory there are cathedrals, museums, a park, an old cemetery and much more.
Entrance to the territory is free. Separately paid entrance to the location of the complex.
The address: V Pevnosti 159/5b, 128 00 Praha 2.
dancing House
or, as it is also called, the “drunk house”, is a more modern architectural landmark of Prague. The building was built 20 years ago on the initiative of Vaclav Havel on the site of an old house that was destroyed during the bombing. Inside is contemporary gallery, where a variety of cultural events take place, there is a restaurant, and from the roof of the building offers stunning views of the city center, especially in the evenings.
The address: Jiráskovo namesti 1981/6.
Working hours: daily from 10:00 to 20:00.
What trip can do without visiting palaces and museums?! Enough in Prague interesting places which you can visit absolutely free of charge:
Prague Senate / Wallenstein Palace
The largest palace in Prague, where the Czech Senate sits. In addition to the external and internal beauty of the Palace itself, there is also a picturesque garden and a gallery.
Working hours: free admission for visitors from January to March every first weekend of the month from 10:00 to 16:00, from April to December - every weekend of the month from 10:00 to 17:00.
The address: Valdstejnské namesti 4.
1 /1
Museum of Stone Sculptures (Lapidárium)
A unique exposition of stone sculptures of the 11th-19th centuries brought from all over the Czech Republic.
The entrance price is symbolic, so you can even call the visit completely free: preferential - 10 kroons (about €0.4), full - 20 kroons (about €0.8).
The address: Vystavistě 422.
Working hours: Tuesday to Friday from 12:00 to 18:00, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
Moser Museum Glass Museum
Museum with an exposition of the famous Czech glass and Bohemian crystal.
The address: Staroměstské namesti 603/15.
Working hours: from November to April on Monday-Friday from 10:00 to 20:00, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00, from April to November daily from 10:00 to 21:00.
Museum of the Prague Child Jesus
Working hours: open all days except Christmas and Easter holidays, New Year holidays; Monday to Saturday 9:30 to 17:30, Sunday - 13:00 to 18:00.
The address: Karmelitska 9.
Military Historical Museum Complex of Prague
Here you can visit several the most interesting museums absolutely free:
Military Museum Zizkov (Army Museum Žižkov)
Museum of the history and military glory of the Czech Republic, and Prague in particular.
Working hours: all days except Monday, throughout the year from 10:00 to 18:00.
The address: U Pamatniku 2.
Aviation Museum Kbely (Letecké muzeum Kbely)
Large hangars, where the aircraft of the Czech Air Force of different times are collected.
Working hours: works in summer time, from May to October all days except Monday, from 10:00 to 18:00.
The address: hangars at Mladoboleslavská ul.
1 /1
There are also free museums of this complex outside Prague, you can read more about them on the website.
Czech People's Bank
Excursions are also conducted here, the exposition "Money and People" is located within the walls of the bank. The tour is free by appointment.
Working hours: from Tuesday to Friday from 9:00.
The address: Na Příkopě 28, 115 03 Prague 1.
Gingerbread Museum
Small gingerbread museum, where it will be interesting for children and adults to look, a large exposition of incredible sweet works.
The address: Nerudova 9.
Working hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00.
In addition, the city authorities and museums regularly meet the guests of the city, spending Days open doors when you can go to many museums “free of charge”. Where, when and how:
National Museum of the Czech Republic (main building)
Museum of the history of peoples and nations that lived in the current territory of the Czech Republic. Free admission every first Monday of the month.
The address: Václavské namesti 68.
Working hours: daily, from October to April from 9:00 to 17:00, from May to September from 10:00 to 18:00.
Museum of the Capital of Prague
Museum of the history of the city from the earliest times to the present day.
Every first Thursday of the month admission is for a symbolic cost of 1 crown (€0.05).
The address: Na Porici 52.
Working hours: from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 18:00.
National Technical Museum
A huge museum dedicated to the development of technology in its various fields from watches, cameras, film production to trains, cars, aircraft and various astronomical instruments.
Free admission every first Friday of the month from 12:00.
The address: Kostelni 42.
A tour of the Moser Glass Museum in Karlovy Vary includes a visit to the Glassworks. Masters of their craft will demonstrate how products that are known all over the world appear.
In a workshop
From time immemorial, Czech glass and crystal have been a welcome addition to any home. Their presence symbolized the good taste of the hostess, the wealth and well-being of the family. Despite the fact that now there is a huge selection of glass products, both cheap and expensive, made mainly in China, Czech glass is not lost against this background. Moreover, it is as relevant as it was several decades ago. And products from it still attract numerous views of connoisseurs of beautiful dishes and glass and crystal masterpieces. Therefore, if you are in the Czech Republic, be sure to visit the Moser Glass Museum (Muzeum Moser v Karlových Varech).
History of Moser glass
A talented engraver, Ludwig Moser, succeeded to glory in a new recipe for crystal, which conquered many high-ranking persons with its transparency and brilliance, both in his native country and far beyond its borders. But the engraver was also an energetic businessman. He was able to take a worthy place in the close-knit ranks of glass manufactories in the Czech Republic, namely in Karlovy Vary, where several factories already existed long before the appearance of Moser. An important role in this was played by Ludwig's grandfather, a well-known businessman in the city and the owner of the first kosher canteen.
Ludwig understood that in order to survive in a competitive environment and be the first, you must always be a few steps ahead. He has invested heavily in production in order to meet high quality products. But looking ahead, I want to say that the costs soon paid for themselves with interest.
Moser emphasized the quality and exclusivity of its products. And he began to position himself as a manufacturer exclusively for the aristocracy. But before chic crystal sets began to appear on tables, in the collections of political leaders and crowned persons, the tireless engraver and entrepreneur spent more than a dozen years at various exhibitions. He proved to everyone that his products deserve the highest awards.
Later, "Moser" products began to be called "Crystal of Kings". And 44 years after the founding of the factory, Moser becomes a supplier of dishes for the court of the Shah of Persia. A couple of years later - the court supplier of the British king Edward VII. Emperor Franz Joseph gave Moser the title of count, which at that time was a fantasy for a person of Jewish nationality.
Guided tour of the Moser Glass Museum
During the tour of the Moser Glass Museum in Krlovy Vary you will visit the Glassworks. There you will see the entire production cycle and you will be able to purchase products directly “piping hot”. A strong impression on many visitors is made by the very process of the appearance of a glass product, because. “a man loves to watch how water runs, fire burns and another person works”: with the help of fire and glass flowing like water, a wind blower creates a new masterpiece before your eyes.
