Real Fábrica de Cristales de La Granja

Blowing the glass to expand it.

Real Fábrica de Cristales de La Granja is a really interesting glass museum, gallery, and factory. If you have even the slightest interest in glass making, the history of glass production, or appreciate glass art, then you should absolutely make a visit. 

The main reason I went was to see a glass blowing demonstration. They have a constant production of vases and the steady stream of tourists can come and observe. It was a really neat process of him heating up the glass, blowing, shaping, using a machine to form, cutting the top, and then putting in a gigantic oven-like object presumably for finishing. It was really well presented and the guys were really friendly and happily fielded questions from the tourists. 

I was unexpectedly engaged with the history of glass blowing production in the area and technologically. There were several replicas and originals of glass blowing equipment with some seriously impressive engineering. There was even a guided tour but we could not participate in the entire tour due to time. 

After the museum there is a gift shop and small gallery full of impressive works. The Real Fábrica de Cristales de La Granja was a real pleasant surprise, a kind of hidden gem for sure!

An old press for making glass sheets.