The Valonians and wandering glass factories

 

The Valonians  - strenge but true stories

Valonians – Valons are the Roman people who arrived at these territories at the times of Galia being conquered by the Romans and settled in the region rich in natural resources, on the area of contemporary Belgium, northern France and the coal basin of Saara. They dealt professionally in excavating and processing natural resources and mining home silver, gold and precious stones. Thanks to such activity they were very respected at all royal courts and palaces of emperors. In the Middle Ages there were not many of them. They constituted a specific caste, which took pride in having secretive knowledge, similar to that of alchemics or astrologists. They had huge influence on rulers at those times and were called engineers. They did not deal with hard work, but were drawing samples and assessing the content of precious deposits in them. It was later that they were called Valonians, as well as all these who participated in excavating works, independently from their nationality, although they had nothing to do with this Roman nation. Everybody who was looking for treasures took up a name of the Valonian.

Glass manufacturing traditions  - wandering glass factories

For centuries glass industry has been the leading domain of local craftsmanship. Numerous places in which the smelting of glass was carried out were relocated, in the course of time, up Kamienna River. In 1617 Wolfgang Preussler, who arrived here form Czech territories, established glass-works in Biała Dolina. The significant event in the history of Szklarska Poręba became the opening, on 7^th July 1842, of “Josephinehütte” (“Józefina”) glass-works. On the day of the start up the factory was employing 100 workers and their number, in the second half of XIX century, increased to 500. In 1865 the number of employees in the three glass-works in Szklarska Poręba amounted to 683, while the overall number of the village inhabitants was 3494. If one includes the cottage workers, who were working in grinderies or paint-shops functioning by their houses, it turns out that the glass industry was the basis of existence for almost every local family. In the second half of XIX century the fame of glass produced here was common and fully earned. Glass industry has been developing in Szklarska Poręba throughout its history and has been the pride of the town until present times.   

At the moment glass-making traditions are continued:

Hand made glass exhibitions. The sales of glass products.
"Leśna Huta", 2 Kołłątaja str., tel. 75/717 23 03
Price 4 zł adults, 2 zł children. It is best to arrange the date and time of the visit by phone.