Státní muzeum skla a bižuterie v Jablonci nad Nisou
State museum with the largest public collection of glass Christmas ornaments in the world, and permanent exhibitions on glass and Jablonec costume jewellery.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The first initiatives to found the museum date from the last third of the 19th century and are linked to the activities of the Industrial Education and Support Society. The museum is considered to have been founded in 1904, when its first permanent exhibition opened. In 1949 it moved, then as the Museum of Applied Art, into the former export house Zimmer & Schmidt, where it is still based. From 1953 to 1961 it was a branch of the National Technical Museum in Prague; since 1961 it has specialised in the history of glass and costume jewellery and has a nationwide remit.
Since 2003 the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic has been its founder. After extensive reconstruction, the exhibitions Nekonečný příběh bižuterie (The Endless Story of Costume Jewellery) and Čarovná zahrada – České sklo sedmi století (Magic Garden – Seven Centuries of Czech Glass) were created. In 2020 the main building was extended by an annex in the shape of a cut glass stone, designed by the architect Michal Hlaváček, which was awarded the title Building of the Year 2020. In 2022 the Christmas ornament exhibition Svět zázraků (World of Wonders) was added. Since 1963 the museum has also looked after the last surviving building of the former glassmaking settlement of Kristiánov in the Jizera Mountains. Since 10 March 2026 the museum has been called Státní muzeum skla a bižuterie.
The collection holds around 12 million objects. The museum describes itself as the only one in the world to combine the fields of glass and costume jewellery. It manages the second-largest glass collection in the Czech Republic and the largest public collection of glass Christmas ornaments in the world.
Highlights
- Magic Garden – Seven Centuries of Czech Glass, 380 m²
- The Endless Story of Costume Jewellery – the development of Jablonec costume jewellery from its beginnings
- World of Wonders – the largest public collection of glass Christmas ornaments in the world
- Modern annex in the shape of a cut glass stone by Michal Hlaváček
- Glassmaking settlement of Kristiánov in the Jizera Mountains (seasonal exhibition)
- Free audio guide in five languages
Permanent exhibitions
- Čarovná zahrada – České sklo sedmi století – The 380 m² exhibition on the second floor of the main building presents glass in chronological order, from antiquity to the present, in four thematic sections.
- Nekonečný příběh bižuterie – The exhibition on the first floor traces the development of the world-famous Jablonec costume jewellery from its origins to the present, in the form of a walk through the former export house.
- Svět zázraků – The exhibition of glass Christmas ornaments draws on the largest public collection of its kind in the world; most of the objects were a gift from the company Jablonex in 2008.
- Founded
- 1904
- Operated by
- Ministerstvo kultury ČR (státní příspěvková organizace)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | 160 Kč |
|---|---|
| Reduced | 110 Kčseniors aged 65 and over and holders of a ZTP card |
| Children & teens | 50 Kčfree up to age 5 · Children and students aged 7–26 pay CZK 50; children under 6 enter free when accompanied by an adult. |
| Seniors | 110 Kčaged 65 and over |
| Visitors with disabilities | 110 Kčcompanion free · Holders of a ZTP/P card enter free, including a companion. |
| Students & apprentices | 50 Kčaged 7–26 |
| Groups (10+ people) | 40 Kč per personSchool and children’s groups (children and students aged 3–26, from 10 people) visiting the permanent and temporary exhibitions without a programme or guided commentary; accompanying teachers enter free. |
| Families | 350 KčFamily ticket I: 2 adults and 1–3 children or students aged 7–26; each additional child or student pays CZK 50. |
| Family ticket II (1 adult and 1–3 children or students aged 7–26) | 200 Kčeach additional child or student pays CZK 50 |
| Current exhibitions – adults | 80 Kč |
| Current exhibitions – children and students aged 7–26, seniors, ZTP | 50 Kč |
Free admission: Free admission to the permanent exhibitions on selected days (in 2026, for example 4 October, 1 November and 6 December); groups must be booked in advance.
Reduced admission applies only on selected announced days (for example 28 October). Holders of the Jizerky CARD and Harrachov CARD and members of the Friends of the Museum society receive a 20% discount. Among others, holders of ICOM cards and children under 6 accompanied by an adult enter free.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The main building is step-free and accessible to families with pushchairs, except for the glass annex. Visitors using wheelchairs can use the reserved parking space by the side entrance.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | 350 Kč · Family ticket I: 2 adults and 1–3 children or students aged 7–26; each additional child or student pays CZK 50. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
For children there is a museum guide featuring the goblin Sklobížek, creative workshops in the studio (on selected days and during most school holidays), and the family programme O skláři Lišákovi (about the glassmaker Lišák) for CZK 40. There is a park with play equipment at the museum.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
The bus station is close to the museum.
By car
Because a new terminal is being built under the museum building, the original parking area right next to it cannot be used. The nearest parking is at the bus station (about 300 m from the museum) and on Horní náměstí (about 500 m). Buses can park on Horní náměstí in Pod Baštou street or at the bus station.
- Accessible parking
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (CS, EN, PL, DE, RU) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The audio guide can be downloaded free to your phone at webaudioguide.cz/jablonec/1; 10 audio guides are available to borrow for groups. A guide for larger groups in Czech and English can be booked at least 14 days in advance; a foreign-language guided tour for a group of up to 20 people costs CZK 500. |
