Real Fábrica de Cristales

Segovia, Spain

Real Fábrica de Cristales de La Granja ('Royal Factory of Glass and Crystal of La Granja') was a Spanish royal manufacturing factory established in 1727 by Philip V of Spain. In that year, funded by the crown, the Catalan artisan Buenaventura Sit installed a small oven which manufactured float glass for the windows and mirrors of the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso, which was under construction in the 1720s. Sit had previously worked at Nuevo Baztan where a glass factory failed because of inadequate fuel supplies. At La Granja there was an abundant supply of wood for the factory in the Sierra de Guadarrama.

Bartolome Sureda y Miserol, previously director of the Real Fabrica de Porcelana del Buen Retiro, the Real Fabrica de Pano in Guadalajara, and the Real Fabrica de Loza de la Moncloa, became director of the Real Fábrica de Cristales de La Granja in 1822. Glass blowing and glassware production could be viewed at the factory. The wares of the royal factory were exported to the Americas, which caused financial losses to the other countries who exported as well. By 1836, with the royal factory experiencing financial hardship, the Royal Treasury formally took over the facility which, unlike other royal factories, failed to financially support itself.

To revive the traditions of the Royal Glass Factory, the National Glass Centre Foundation was established in 1982 in the eighteenth-century building.

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Details

Founded: 1727
Category: Industrial sites in Spain

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Bart van Haaren (7 months ago)
The building alone is beautiful. Take a leisurely stroll around and enjoy the beautiful things and the history of glass making. There was also a nice artist exhibition. There was also glass blowing in action. At the end still nice glassware for sale for a nice price. Entrance was 6,- pp
Darusik1 (9 months ago)
Very cool museum, well organised and nicely presented. Beautiful glass works and installations. Couldnt recommend enough as a part of your visit to the city.
Julia Oatway (3 years ago)
Excellemt multi-faceted museum. Historical glass making tools and machines to various displays of glass from the 16th century to modern day.
Javier Rubio (4 years ago)
Far below expectations, we were alone, the glassblowing exhibition was nothing, the two people who were working, did not respond to good morning, not a single comment about what they were doing, I would say that neither we They looked, I insist that my wife, my two children and I were there. The most interesting is the glass art exhibition.
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