Experience the Revival of Glass Art in Kristiánov, Jizera Mountains!
For many years, the first Saturday in September has been dedicated to the Jizera Mountains’ Glass Festival in Kristiánov. This year, attendees can look forward to a special glass show featuring talented invited glassblowers. Starting from the morning, the historic glassmaking village will become vibrant with stylish crafts, allowing visitors to take part in creative workshops, enjoy cultural activities, and sample traditional foods.
The very first Marian Glass Pilgrimage took place in the historic glassmaking village of Kristiánov back in 1790. This annual gathering is timed to coincide with the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary on September 8. However, in the late 19th century, a devastating forest fire destroyed the local glassworks, the school, and the homes of many glassmakers, while a few decades later the Manor House was also lost to fire. In 1990, the idea of reviving the fair in the heart of the Jizera Mountains was proposed, and for the past two decades, the Glass Festival has been organized by the Museum of Glass and Jewellery located in Jablonec nad Nisou.
Starting at 9:00 am, the village will be bustling with stylish crafts and live demonstrations of various handicrafts. Attendees of the Glass Festival can participate in creative workshops, where they can experience glass blowing at the furnace, engraving, painting, and making winding beads, bracelets, headbands, and flowers, among other things. The market stalls will showcase a plethora of artisan goods, including items made from ceramics, wood, and other natural materials. The Glass Festival symbolizes a return to the past and celebrates modern Czech glassmaking, alongside stands filled with other handcrafted items made from ceramics, wood, and natural materials.
The only way to reach Kristiánov is by hiking along trails from Janov nad Nisou, Bedřichov, Hrabětice, and Josefův Důl or by biking on designated cycle paths. On festival day, there will be additional bus services for public transport on line No. 1, which connects from the Jablonec nad Nisou center to Bedřichov. For those driving, there is parking available in Bedřichov and Hrabětice.
Glassworks kiln, period shooting range and activities for kids
The celebration will kick off with a traditional ceremony to honor the founder of the settlement, Johann Leopold Riedel, held in the forest cemetery. Following this, there will be a Holy Mass at the site of the old manor house.
This year’s highlight will be a clarion show featuring renowned artist and glassblower Martin Janecký, who will demonstrate his craft at mobile glass furnaces of Florianova hutě. His exceptional technique of creating internally molded heads is praised by both experts and amateurs around the globe.
All day long, there will be craft stalls showcasing traditional glass and handicraft goods, along with creative workshops. Additionally, visitors can join two guided tours of the settlement, and explore the permanent exhibition in the Fox’s Hut.
A diverse cultural programme is also planned. The folklore ensemble Nisanka will perform traditional songs, dances, and dialects from the Pojizeří, Podještědí, and Podkrkonoší regions. The group Catastrophic Weather Forecast will captivate the audience with unique songs, while the Golden Girls will sing about the Jizera Mountains. The band H!T! will entertain visitors with a mix of popular hits spanning various genres. Children can enjoy a theatrical performance of About a Dog and a Cat and About Smolíček by the KK Theatre, along with an adventure game inspired by the history of the village, a wooden carousel, a period shooting range, and horse riding. There will be opportunities for abseiling in Malé Kamenice with mountain service, horse riding, and many fun and creative workshops. The festivities in Kristiánov will last until 4:00 pm, and entry is free.
