The Kingdom of Crystal

The Kingdom of Crystal, Sweden

Every year more than a million visitors come here to a area in Kronoberg and Kalmar counties in Småland that includes the municipalities of Emmaboda, Lessebo, Nybro and Uppvidinge. Many return time after time. It is easy to understand why. To watch red-hot molten glass being transformed into delicate crystal or sturdy bowls is a spectacle that one never tires of. Here you will find well-known glassworks and brands such as Orrefors, Kosta Boda, Skruf, Mats Jonasson Målerås to name a few. In additon, you can enjoy the nature of Småland in its prime with its forests, lakes, stone walls and many cultural sights. These include Vilhelm Moberg’s emigrant district.

Population:

Emmaboda municipality:
approx. 9,200
Lessebo municipality:
approx. 8,200
Nybro municipality:
approx. 20,000
Uppvidinge municipality:
approx. 9,300

Currency:

Swedish SEK/crowns

Emergency Numbers:

112

Opening Hours:

The glassworks are open every day all year round except for certain holidays. Glassblowing occurs primarily on weekdays. At Kosta, however, blowing also occurs on weekends.

Newspapers:

Barometern
www.barometern.se
Östra Nyheterna
www.ostran.se

The region

Glasriket is the Swedish name of The Kingdom of Crystal. The region handblown glass has been made since 1742. Many well-known brands originate from here, including Orrefors, Kosta Boda, Mats Jonasson Målerås and Skruf. Together with the glassblowers, designers continuously stretch the possibilities of glass, and many glassblowing techniques have been developed through experimentation in the Småland blowing rooms. As a visitor you will encounter today both everyday glass and art glass of world-class quality, and you are welcome to step up to the glass furnaces to see it being created.

In the summer, you also have the opportunity to try your hand at blowing, painting and engraving glass. Adjacent to the blowing rooms are well-stocked glass shops where you can bargain hunt and exhibition halls where you can view the latest in Swedish art glass. Glass Art – is the glassworks’ summer exhibition. A joint opening at all glassworks during the last weekend in April inaugurates the exhibition which will continue through August 31.

But beyond the heat of the blowing rooms, there is also much to experience in The Kingdom of Crystal. Here the nature of Småland, which once supported the works, offers opportunities for hiking, biking, horseback riding, canoeing and fishing in lakes and streams.

Here you will also find cultural history, the immigrant district as well as a large range of shopping and other activities. Why not ride a bicycle trolley on one of the old railway tracks, experience a genuine hot shop herring (“hyttsill”) evening, visit one of the many charming museums or take a course to teach yourself the basics of glassblowing? The Kingdom of Crystal has something for all tastes and interests.

Glassworks

Visitors are coming to the Kingdom of Crystal to experience true craftsmanship, to discover innovative design and to bargain hunt in outlets and glass shops. Step into the blowing rooms. It is inside amid the rumbling furnaces that molten glass is shaped by skilled glass workers into beautiful art. A fascinating spectacle!

At many glassworks you also have the opportunity to try your hand at blowing, painting and engraving glass. Or how about renting your own glassblower in order to actualise your own innermost designer dreams? In the Kingdom of Crystal everything is possible, and there are always many things going on in the blowing rooms. You can attend concerts, circuses and courses, or why not enjoy a traditional hot-shop herring evening!

Do & See

In addition to the glassworks there are many other activities in The Kingdom of Crystal. Most are related to the fantastic landscape or the deep rooted cultural heritage of the area.

Dining

In The Kingdom of Crystal there are many possibilities to experience different food at restaurants, cafés and tea rooms in towns and the many country cafés but also at the glassworks where The Kingdom of Crystal’s national dish hot shop herring is served.