Fraunhofer-Glashütte

Over het museum

In 1805 the entrepreneur Joseph von Utzschneider acquired buildings of the former Benediktbeuern Abbey and set up a glassworks and an optical institute there. From 1807 the young Joseph von Fraunhofer worked here, first as a glass grinder, then on the production of telescopes, microscopes and instruments for land surveying. In the simple glassworks with its two wood-fired melting furnaces, he improved the production of optical glass free of striae, among other things with a stirring mechanism that made the melt more uniform.

With instruments he built himself, Fraunhofer discovered in 1814 the dark lines in the solar spectrum that now bear his name. They are regarded as the cornerstone of spectroscopy and still play a role today in the exploration of space.

The surviving glassworks on the abbey grounds is now an exhibition site of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. A severe storm badly damaged the building in 2023, so that it had to be closed to visitors. After renovation, the glassworks is due to reopen on October 24, 2026, with a new exhibition. It leads from Fraunhofer's life and work through the glassmaking of the early 19th century – from raw material through melting, stirring and cooling to grinding the lens – to the present-day research of the Fraunhofer institutes.

Hoogtepunten

• Two original pot furnaces with stirring mechanism
• Site of the discovery of the Fraunhofer lines in the solar spectrum (1814)
• Production of optical glass from raw material to lens
• Tools for glass and metalworking and optical instruments
• A bridge from Fraunhofer's work to present-day Fraunhofer research

Vaste collectie

• Ausstellung in der Fraunhofer-Glashütte – Newly designed exhibition on the life and work of Joseph von Fraunhofer, the production of optical glass in the early 19th century and present-day Fraunhofer research, centered on the two historic melting furnaces.

Opgericht

1990

Beheerder

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

De toegang is gratis.

Free admission.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom: geen informatie
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The exhibition has been designed to be as barrier-free as possible; however, the historic interior has uneven floors, thresholds, platforms, glass surfaces and some narrow spots.

Kinderen & gezin

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd – vraag het rechtstreeks na bij het museum.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The glassworks is located on the grounds of Benediktbeuern Abbey.

Service & horeca

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd – vraag het rechtstreeks na bij het museum.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd – vraag het rechtstreeks na bij het museum.

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