The tradition of producing artistic crystal glass products, appreciated at international competitions and finding their way into the homes of royal and aristocratic families not only throughout Europe, but also across the Atlantic, dates back to the late 19th century in Piechowice.

The Piechowice Crystal Glassworks, founded by Fritz Heckert, quickly became a competitor to the Josephine Glassworks, operating in Szklarska Poreba since 1842 and owned by the Silesian Schaffgotsch family. In a short period of time, mainly due to the hard work of specialists brought from the Czech Republic, well versed in their craft of glass blowers, grinders and painters, the manufacturer managed to achieve an artistic level of products equal to that of the Szklarska Poreba glassworks. Soon the two glassworks, together with Kynast Kristal Neumann & Staebe of Sobieszow, joined forces and in 1923 formed the Josephine joint stock company. A dozen years after the end of World War II, following the earlier incorporation of Silesia into the borders of the Republic of Poland, the glassworks, then the largest crystal glass manufacturer in the Krkonoše Mountains, adopted its Polish name, Julia, in 1958. Little did the plant’s history come to an end at the turn of the century, but after private, foreign investors declared bankruptcy, in 2006 the new owners restarted production of handmade and decorated products of the highest quality, for sale both at home and abroad.

The “Julia” Crystal Glassworks is a place where history is intertwined with the present. This is because a visit to the glassworks provides not only the opportunity to travel back in time to the beginnings of the historic facility, located in the building of the former Fritz Heckert factory, but also a unique opportunity to see with your own eyes how the process of glass blowing, forming the hot mass, grinding and, finally, applying beautiful decorations looks like today. This is much more than a guided walk through the museum or a specially prepared demonstration, at the glassworks guests at individual stations watch the daily work of the best craftsmen, resulting in glass works of art. In addition to the tour, the owners of the smelter also organize group workshops: engraving, a mini-hut for children and glass painting.

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