Sklářské muzeum v Novém Boru

The Glass Museum in Nový Bor (Sklářské muzeum v Novém Boru) is the oldest glass museum in the world, sitting right in the center of Nový Bor, a north Bohemian town whose identity has been tied to glassmaking for generations. Its collection traces more than two hundred years of Czech glass, from rough workshop pieces to intricate, hand-painted showpieces.

How did the museum come to be?

The museum opened its doors in May 1893, after the town council set aside rooms in the local town hall for the first display. As the collection kept growing, the town gradually handed over more rooms to house it, but it wasn't until 1952 that the museum finally moved into the building it still occupies today, known locally as house number 105. That unbroken run since the late 19th century is what makes it the oldest institution of its kind anywhere in the world, predating comparable glass museums elsewhere in Europe.

What is on display?

The permanent exhibition holds more than 550 objects and walks visitors through the evolution of Czech glass from the 18th century to the present day. The undisputed highlight is the museum's collection of Art Nouveau painted glass, widely regarded as the largest and finest of its kind anywhere in the world. Alongside the finished pieces, the museum also displays scale models of historic glassworks and workshops, giving visitors a clearer picture of what daily work looked like for the region's glassmakers.

What techniques does the exhibition explain?

The displays cover the basics of glass melting and finishing — painting, engraving, cutting, and hot-forming techniques carried out while the glass is still molten. These combined crafts are exactly what built the strength of the glass industry in Nový Bor and across the surrounding Lužické hory (Lusatian Mountains) region for centuries. Walking through the museum, it's easy to trace how simple decorative techniques gradually developed into the richly ornamented, colorful forms that define Czech Art Nouveau glass.

How do you get there, and when is the best time to visit?

Nový Bor lies in north Bohemia, in the Liberec Region, close to the German border and within easy reach of the Lusatian Mountains and Bohemian Switzerland. The museum sits right in the town center, so it pairs naturally with a stroll through the surrounding streets and the compact town square. It's a worthwhile stop any time of year, though it's worth budgeting an hour or two — the sheer range of exhibits invites a slower look, especially in the room devoted to Art Nouveau glass.

Frequently asked questions

What makes this museum stand out from other glass museums? It's the oldest continuously operating museum of its kind in the world, founded in 1893, and it holds what is considered the largest and finest collection of Art Nouveau painted glass anywhere.

How many pieces does the permanent exhibition include? More than 550 objects, ranging from finished glassware to scale models of historic glassworks and craft workshops.

What time period does the collection cover? The exhibition traces the development of Czech glass from the 18th century through to today, showing how forms, techniques, and decorative styles changed over time.

Where exactly is the museum located? Right in the center of Nový Bor, in the building it has occupied since 1952, after decades of being housed across various rooms of the town hall.