Glass museum Kamenický Šenov

Glass Museum in Kamenický Šenov is one of the oldest and most important institutions dedicated to glassmaking in the Czech Republic, located in a town that has been a heart of the North Bohemian glass industry for centuries.

How to get there?

Kamenický Šenov sits in North Bohemia, close to Nový Bor — the other major glassmaking town of the region. The museum occupies a historic building in the town centre, once the cutting workshop of the Conrath & Liebsch company, standing right across from the local glassmaking school. The easiest way in is by car or bus from Nový Bor or Česká Lípa, both of which have regular connections to the rest of the region.

What will you see?

The permanent exhibition presents an exceptional collection of cut and engraved glass from the 17th to 20th centuries, tracing the development of local craftsmanship from its origins to the present day. The holdings include student works from the glassmaking school, sample pieces from local factories, and long-term loans from collectors and companies.

The undisputed highlight is a glass chair made in the final decade of the 19th century for the palace of a maharaja in Hyderabad, India — a striking example of the export luxury once produced in local workshops. Alongside it, visitors can admire a collection of historicizing crystal chandeliers and layered lamps that showcase the region's cutting and polishing skill.

A major part of the exhibition is devoted to the local glassmaking school, founded in 1856 — the oldest institution of its kind in the world. Generations of master cutters and engravers trained here, and their legacy still underpins the region's reputation. The museum also displays works by participants of the International Glass Engraving Symposiums, held in Kamenický Šenov since 1996, which keep adding contemporary pieces to the collection.

The museum's history

The institution was founded in 1923 to document the history of local glassmaking. Its collections were first kept and displayed in the building of the glassmaking school, then moved to the former town hall in 1927. The museum was formally recognised as a professional glass museum in 1949. Between 1966 and 1991 it operated as a branch of the Museum of Glass and Jewellery in Jablonec nad Nisou, after which the town of Kamenický Šenov took over as operator. Since 1968 the collections have been housed in the current heritage-protected building of the former cutting workshop, built in 1769 — a building that has always been tied to glass production.

When to visit?

The best time to visit is during summer and early autumn, when the tourist offer across North Bohemia is at its richest and the nearby glassmaking towns — Nový Bor, Kamenický Šenov, and Jablonec nad Nisou — host additional craft-related events. It's worth checking the current schedule of temporary exhibitions, which change seasonally alongside the permanent collection.

Good to know

The museum runs a small shop selling glass products and souvenirs tied to the local craft tradition — a good chance to take home a piece of the region's history. A visit pairs naturally with a stop at the nearby glassmaking school and a trip to Nový Bor, where visitors can watch present-day glassworks in action.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Glass Museum in Kamenický Šenov known for? Above all for its collection of cut and engraved glass from the 17th to 20th centuries, and for the unique chair made for the maharaja of Hyderabad.

Has the museum's building always housed a glass exhibition? Not always — the building dating from 1769 was historically the cutting workshop of the Conrath & Liebsch company before becoming the museum's seat in 1968.

Is it worth combining the visit with the local glassmaking school? Definitely — founded in 1856, the school in Kamenický Šenov is the oldest glassmaking school in the world and complements the museum exhibition perfectly.

Does the museum host temporary exhibitions? Yes, alongside its permanent collection the museum regularly presents short-term exhibitions, including works from participants of the International Glass Engraving Symposiums.