The glass and porcelain traditions are inseparably linked to Karlovy Vary, as is the production of the famous herbal liqueur. Let yourself be enchanted by the handmade glass and porcelain and the aroma of traditional herbs. You can visit the Moser glassworks, the Thun 1794 porcelain manufactory and the Jan Becher Museum as part of the Fabrik Tour.
Do you want to see with your own eyes how in the hands of skilled glassmakers the hot mass takes on a new shape, to smell the aroma of the fired wooden mould? Then visit the glassworks where the magical world of Moser crystal is born. Learn about the rich history of the glassworks in the museum and be captivated by the beauty of the branded crystal in the sales gallery.
Want to know more? The company was founded in 1857 when Ludwig Moser, a talented engraver and entrepreneur, opened his engraving workshop and shop in the spa town of Karlovy Vary. Due to its unique beauty, quality, timeless design and masterful glassmaking, Moser’s works have won the admiration and recognition of exceptional personalities from all over the world. Few have mastered colour as much as the local glassmakers over the past 167 years. They are as skilled with Moser’s iconic shades as painters are with oil paints. The typically Moser tones have been created through long experimentation, and the correct proportions of colouring ingredients have been carefully guarded by the glassworks for generations. It is all the more pleasing that handmade glassmaking has been newly inscribed on the UNESCO list.
Karlovy Vary porcelain has made our country as famous as Czech glass or Pilsner beer. And who is the biggest Czech porcelain producer? None other than Thun 1794 in Nová Rola.
Kaolin, quartz and feldspar. The three basic raw materials needed to make porcelain. And because the Karlovy Vary Region has been mining the finest kaolin since the 18th century, the unique Thun porcelain was born here. A tour of the Story of Porcelain, a visit to the museum and a creative workshop for children called the Porcelain School will give you an unforgettable experience.
The visitor tour leads through the administration building, through the sample room and directly into the production plant. The whole tour is enriched by a film presentation of the production and a tour of the final products. If you are interested in a product, you can buy a nice souvenir in the company shop of the factory, which is one of the largest contemporary porcelain production facilities in Central Europe.
Discover the heritage of Becherovka and the unique process of its production. A fun guided tour through the historical and interactive exhibition awaits you, where you will get to know Becherovka up close and personal, take in the scent of herbs and spices, taste the water used to produce it and, with the help of VR glasses, find yourself right on the bottling line. Every year, the museum attracts thousands of those who have fallen under the spell of Becherovka and want to take a peek into its colourful life, smell its history and uncover the secrets that surround it. And best of all, each tour ends with a guided tasting of the products produced at the Jan Becher factory.
Would you like to broaden your horizons? The museum, dedicated to the mineral water brand and its founder Heinrich Mattoni, is launching a new exhibition in its 10th season. See original historic bottles and collections of Mattoni clay jugs that were used until 1864. The first glass bottles that Mattoni produced in his own glassworks in Leopoldovy Hamry in the Sokolov region are also on display. Another unique feature is a set of label designs that do not include the famous eagle, but other elements such as the flying horse Pegasus, a dove, a peacock or an owl.
If you have a flair for fashion, you will be pleased to see that the museum has a new exhibition of “water” dresses by designer Lukáš Macháček, which were worn by top model Pavlína Němcová at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival last year. This extraordinary dress was created on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Mattoni 1873. After the tour, we recommend going to the museum’s Café Löschner for a delicious coffee. It is served in porcelain service, the design of which is inspired by the original porcelain used in the baths and in the company of Heinrich Mattoni.
Come and discover one of the most important collections of gloves in the world, carefully guarded by the museum in the West Bohemian town of Aš. This unique collection dates back to the era of the now defunct textile companies of the region that once produced these clothing accessories. Thousands of gloves, which are stored in the depository of the local museum, document not only the development but also the subsequent decline of production.
It is the largest collection of its kindin the world. It is record-breaking not only in the number of exhibits, of which there are exactly 26 563, but also in the range of designs and the possibilities for future use. It is being considered that a design studio could be built in the museum, where the patterns used on individual gloves could serve as inspiration and a basis for further work by designers.Explore the fascinating world of gloves and their importance in the clothing industry!
Spa wafers
Spa. Most people think of springs with salubrious water, promenade colonnades, noble spa houses and, of course, spa wafers, which unmistakably complete the colour of spa towns. The thin, perfectly round, crispy delicacy, served hot and cold, in many different flavours, has been attracting spa guests for more than a century and a half. The most traditional spa delicacy. Spa wafers are just that.
Imagine: perfect weather, bubbling spa springs, great coffee and the symphony of flavours of spa wafers. An experience you just want to have. Already planning your trip? Welcome to the heart of the spa triangle.
