The Glass Museum in Nový Bor is a fascinating stop for anyone curious about the centuries-old glassmaking tradition of the Lužické hory (Lusatian Mountains) region. Housed in a historic building right on the main square, it tells the story of how this small Czech town became a world-famous center of glass production.

The building itself is a heritage gem - a house with a tall mansard roof and an ornate late-Baroque entrance portal topped with an anchor, a symbol recalling the long sea voyages that Czech glass once made to distant markets. Inside, the galleries showcase painted, engraved, hot-worked and cut glass, with historical models of glassworkers workshops adding atmosphere. It is a wonderful indoor escape on a rainy day between hikes in the surrounding hills, and equally rewarding on a sunny afternoon strolling through the town center.

How to get there

• Nový Bor train and bus station - about 1 km walk to the town center, easy route
• náměstí Míru (Peace Square) - the main square where several bus lines stop and where the museum building stands, also the starting point for local hiking and cycling trails

Practical information

• Located in a listed historic building on náměstí Míru in Nový Bor
• Permanent exhibition organized by glass techniques: painted, engraved, hot-formed and cut glass
• Hosts temporary exhibitions, including works from the International Glass Symposia (IGS) held in Nový Bor
• Museum shop sells glass products, glass jewelry, specialist publications and souvenirs
• The square serves as the main tourist signpost hub for hiking and cycling routes in the area

A fun detail: the anchor above the entrance recalls the story of Johann Christoph Socher, the merchant who built the house in 1804 after spending thirteen years successfully selling Bohemian glass in Mexico.