Bohemia Crystal Factory & Karlstejn Castle – Prague to Crystal Factory

TOUR INFO

One of the Czech Republic’s most sought-after products is Bohemia crystal. While touring the Bohemia crystal factory, you can learn about all the stages of creating crystal in Bohemia. You will also have the opportunity to purchase original Bohemian crystal at the factory shop. After the crystal factory excursion, you will visit nearby Karlštejn Castle, one of the most beautiful Gothic castles in the country. Then you will have lunch in a picturesque village under the castle.

Prague – Bohemian Crystal Factory – Karlštejn Castle: 7-hour Itinerary

45 minutes Prague to Bohemian Crystal Factory transfer
1 hour Bohemian Crystal Factory excursion
30 minutes Shopping in the crystal factory shop
30 minutes Bohemian Crystal factory to Karlštejn Castle transfer
30 minutes Karlštejn village to Karlštejn Castle walk / horse carriage / taxi ride
1 hour Tour of Karlštejn Castle
30 minutes Walk from Karlštejn Castle to Karlštejn village under the castle
1.5 hours Lunch in the village of Karlštejn
45 minutes Karlštejn to Prague transfer

About Bohemia Crystal

In pre-Christian times, the area was settled by Celts who were fond of glass and enamel beads. Blown glass has been produced since the 3^rd century B.C. Glassmakers worked in the Lusatian Mountains of North Bohemia as far back as the 13^th century. During this time Bohemian glass was used in monastery windows. In the following century, the industry began to thrive, and in 1414, the first true glass factory in the world was founded in Chřibská. Potash and chalk, the glassmakers discovered, made their products more stable than the Italian imports. Various factories sprang up around the area, including those in Skalice, Nový Bor, and Kamenický Šenov. During the Baroque period, covering the end of the 17^th century and extending into the middle of the 18^th century, manufacture reached a peak of excellence. It was in the 17^th century that Emperor Rudolph II’s gem cutter, Caspar Lehmann, invented the process of engraving on glass. The dawn of the 18^th century saw Bohemia as the world’s leading producer of glass. Bohemian houses, as they were called, were located worldwide, from New York to Cairo to Mexico to Beirut, as well as throughout Europe.

Bohemia Crystal Factory excursion

The crystal factory we will visit near Prague manufactures an extensive range of cut 24 percent leaded crystal in a wide variety of decorations from the simple to the extremely complex with laborious decorations, gilt, hand painting and sandblasting. The company was chosen for the production and supply of official state gifts due to the very high quality of its products and services. It is possible to see all the stages of creating the glass in the glassworks factory.

Gothic Karlštejn Castle from the 14^th  century

This tour can be very nicely combined with a visit to nearby Karlštejn Castle, one of the most famous castles in the Czech Republic. It was built by the Czech King and Roman Emperor Charles IV in 1348 as a place of safekeeping for the royal treasures, especially Emperor Charles IV’s collection of holy relics and the coronation jewels of the Holy Roman Empire.  The fortress-like castle also served as the emperor’s summer retreat. Over 660 years old, Karlštejn Castle was never totally conquered. The castle even survived a seven-month siege by the Hussites in the 15th century. The tour of the castle includes historical interiors of the Imperial palace and the lower floors of the Marian Tower with valuable relics from the 14^th to 19^th centuries. Because the castle is situated on a hilltop, it is necessary to climb a steep road for about one kilometer. If you don´t feel like walking, we will take a taxi or ride in a horse drawn carriage. During the castle tour, it is necessary to climb some stairs as well.

Similar Tours to the Bohemia Crystal Factory / Karlstejn Castle

You might want to consider the following tour/s:

The above mentioned Crystal Factory excursion, without the visit to the Karlstejn Castle (3,5-hour tour):
Bohemia Crystal – Crystal Factory – Private Day Trips from Prague

The above mentioned Karlstejn Castle tour, without the Bohemia Crystal Factory excursion (5-hour tour)
Karlstejn Castle – Prague to Karlstejn Castle – Day trips from Prague

You can also learn how to blow Bohemia crystal and wind beads yourself! (8-hour tour)
Bohemia Crystal Experience – blow out a vase and wind beads yourself 

Moser Crystal Factory in Karlovy Vary (10-hour tour):
Moser Crystal Factory in Karlovy Vary – Private Day Trips from Prague

How do you recognize authentic Bohemia crystal? Read more in our article about Bohemia crystal. If you want to buy Bohemia crystal in Prague book one of our Prague walking tours.

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