Sklárna Klára Glass factory

Welcome to the village Polevsko. You are standing in front of a building that carries more than a century of history, craftsmanship and human effort. In front of you is Sklárna Klára, a place that is not just an industrial site but a real cultural monument of our state. Feel the atmosphere of this place where the rigour of production is combined with the fineness of glass art. If you look at the general area, you'll see the space that tells the story of courage, love and technological progress in harmony with the surrounding landscape.

Let us now return in time more than a hundred years back, to the year one thousand nine hundred and seven. It was this year that Mr. Karel Mühlbauer founded his glassworks here. If you have any idea why he chose that name, the answer is very personal and warm. The foundry was named Clara in honor of his wife. It's a beautiful detail that shows us that even behind large industrial businesses, there are often simple human feelings. At that time, the company began to write its history, which gradually became an essential part of the whole region.

Now pay attention to the appearance of the object itself. Even if we don't know the names of the particular architects who designed the buildings, please note the overall layout of the premises. Look at the facade and see how the space adapted to the production needs at different times. The foundry was not only a static place, but a living organism that was constantly evolving. One of the most important moments of modernization was the year one thousand nine hundred twenty-eight. It was at that time that a new, modern furnace was put into operation, which fundamentally changed the way glass melts and made it possible to increase the quality and quantity of products. Imagine the heat and noise that these walls had to surround at the time.

Speaking of this place, we can't ignore the people who worked here and created it. Sklárna Klára was not only a place of production of objects, but it also became an important point for the workers' movement in this region. This is where people who fought for their rights and better working conditions met, which gives this place a deeper social dimension. In addition to the founder of Karel Mühlbauer, such as Emanuel Beránek or Mr Vávra, the personalities associated with the company's history are those of the company. These men, through their work and leadership, helped shape the glass factory as we know it today.

Now I want to impress you with one interesting thing that may surprise you. If you connect glass with luxury today, then you're in the right mind. Sklárna Klára, in the early years, was involved in the production of objects that we now consider to be real jewels. Up to the year a thousand nine hundred twenty-five were made beautiful vases, candlesticks, kerosene lamps and church lamps. And not from ordinary glass, but from copper ruby glass, which excelled with its rich and deep paint. Imagine those red sparks a second after the product was pulled out of the oven and worked perfectly.

But history has also brought about changes. In a thousand and nine hundred and sixty-eight, there was a major break. The traditional manual glass production has ended and the operation has been taken over by the State Research Institute of Glass. This meant the end of an era, but also the beginning of a new chapter focused on research and modern technology. Today, the glassworks focuses on the production of luxury table glass and special architectural blocks, which are used in modern construction. It is fascinating how this place has transformed from a small family company to a modern business that still retains its identity and historical value.

Look around you again. Everything you see is the result of the endurance of generations of glassmakers who have spent most of their lives in this environment. The industrial monument you face is a bridge between the past and the present. It is proof that craft and industry can be a source of pride throughout the region.

Now I'm letting you take a quiet look around the area and try to imagine what Polevsko looked like a century ago when they first lit the ovens here. Go through the space slowly, perceive the silence of today's times and think of all those people who have made beautiful objects of fragile glass here. I hope you are interested in the visit to Klára Glass and that you are leaving with new knowledge of this unique place. Thank you for your attention, and I wish you a pleasant rest of the day when you discover the beauty of our region.