Šenov Glassworks Tour and Mělník

Our early morning started with an hour bus ride (normal sized bus this time!) to Šenov Glassworks which is in in the outskirts of Prague, Czech Republic. We got there around 10am and followed the wooden balcony that trails around the entire building overlooking the workers that hand make this beautiful glass. We were a big group but the people were very hospitable. We went in groups and actually got to make a piece of our own! You got to pick the pattern and the color and then would get to blow the glass into a vase shape (with help of course!). It was very fun! We also got to see the men work, building swans and ornaments and long glass pieces for some custom project unknown to us. These men are truly artists and it is sad to see that the profession is dying. Class making was started in this Bohemian area when the locals found that the soil and weather didn't allow for any type of agriculture, in order to make money the locals founded the glass works operation. Nowadays, however, people are less interested in the handmade stuff and go to factory glass that is made quickly and cheaply. The workshop is very hot and we laughed as the workmen took breaks and returned with snowballs to throw at each other, the receivers were both surprised and relieved! The tour was great and they also have a restaurant that houses at least 100 people and great bar and food plus some gift items!

Senov Glassworks Workshop

Me picking out my texture!

I blow glass like the pro's

He also thought it was the best....ever.

Restaurant

Old Sand Scale

There is also a castle in the area and we learned that this used to be a border region of Bohemia. Interestingly, the castle door is at the bottom of the cliff and is very easily penetrated (isn't that the opposite of the purpose of a castle?) During hard times the castle was continually ransacked by thieves and criminals who hit around the castle in bushes and behind rocks. Rich in the middle ages, the sandstone near the castle was used to make the glass. Up until the 20th century many parts of Czechoslovakia were primarily German-speaking and were favored by the German administration that took over during the period. Minorities of Germans were usually the craftsmen and lived fairly well. However, after WWII, as you can imagine, many of them where killed and expelled. This town served as refuge for these expelled Germans.

Castle on top of the cliff

We then traveled south to Mělník which has some great history and is a small quaint little town. The town square is very small but charming and we were given a tour of the underground wells where people hid and lived during the German and then Russian invasion. Mělník means something like "dirty rock" which points at the underground caves that leave residue on your coats and hats. Not the most appealing name but they are good about laying things out here! We walked up to the cathedral and saw the Mělník castle. The prettiest site was looking over the cliff to the two converging waters below, the Labe and Vltava rivers. In November 1274 Mělník gained the statute of town from king Přemysl Otakar II and later became a royal town belonging to Bohemians queens and has since been commonly known as a Queen's City. We made our way back to Prague and I was happy to enjoy a three hour nap when I got home! 

Cool sculpture in Melnik

Melnik Clock Tower

Melnik Town Square

Melnik Fountain

Converging Rivers