Muzeum skla a bižutérie v Jablonci nad Nisou

The Museum of Glass and Jewellery in Jablonec nad Nisou is one of the defining attractions of this town in northern Bohemia, known well beyond Czech borders as an institution with no real equivalent anywhere else — bringing together the history of glassmaking and costume jewellery under one roof on a scale that is genuinely hard to match.

What is this museum about?

The institution was founded in 1904, and its Art Nouveau main building went up that same year for the export firm Zimmer & Schmidt, one of the key players in Jablonec's jewellery trade at the turn of the 20th century. Since 2003 the museum has held state institution status, and it now looks after a collection of roughly 12 million objects, making it one of the largest collections of its kind in the world. It bridges two crafts that shaped the region's identity for generations: glassmaking and glass decoration on one hand, and costume jewellery production on the other — an industry for which Jablonec nad Nisou was, for decades, one of the world's leading centres.

What will you actually see inside?

The core of the museum's offer is built around three permanent exhibitions. "Nekonečný příběh bižuterie" (The Endless Story of Jewellery) walks visitors through the development of local jewellery craft — from its 19th-century beginnings to contemporary design — showing how simple glass beads evolved into sophisticated decorative art. The second exhibition, "Čarovná zahrada – České sklo sedmi století" (Enchanted Garden — Czech Glass of Seven Centuries), surveys glassmaking from the medieval period to the present day, presenting both functional glassware and one-off artistic pieces. The third, "Svět zázraků" (World of Wonders), is reportedly the largest publicly accessible collection of glass Christmas ornaments in the world — a display that draws particular crowds in the run-up to the holidays, though it's on view year-round.

Modern architecture next to a historic shell

In 2020 the museum gained an extension shaped like a giant cut glass crystal, which quickly became a new landmark on the Jablonec skyline. This architecturally bold addition won the "Building of the Year 2020" award, and the resulting combination — a century-old Art Nouveau structure paired with a futuristic glass form — is now a highlight of any visit in its own right, even before stepping through the door.

How to get there?

The museum sits in the centre of Jablonec nad Nisou, at U Muzea 398/4, within easy walking distance of the main square and the town's key sights. Jablonec is roughly 100 km from Prague and just a short hop from Liberec, well connected by regional buses and trains, which makes it a convenient day-trip destination from either city.

When should you visit?

The museum operates year-round, but two periods stand out. The pre-Christmas stretch (November–December) is the best time to see the ornament collection in the "World of Wonders" exhibition, which is sometimes given extra seasonal staging. In the summer months, on the other hand, a visit pairs naturally with the wider outdoor offer of the Jizera Mountains region surrounding the town.

Frequently asked questions

Is this really the only museum of its kind in the world? Yes — combining a glass collection of this scale with such an extensive costume jewellery collection in a single institution is considered unique globally.

How large is the collection? The museum's holdings comprise roughly 12 million items, assembled since the early 20th century.

Is it worth visiting outside the Christmas season? Absolutely — the permanent exhibitions on glass and jewellery history are open all year, and the striking 2020 glass extension is impressive regardless of the season.

How much time should I plan for a visit? Seeing all three permanent exhibitions typically takes between an hour and a half and two hours, depending on your pace and interest in the details.