German Glass Street
The Glass Street (Glasstrasse) in Eastern Bavaria is one of the most varied holiday routes in Germany. It leads over 250 kilometers through the impressive landscapes of the Upper Palatinate and Bavarian Forests, where the 700-year tradition of glass production and glass art is still alive today. Along the Glass Street you are repeatedly drawn into the spell of the versatility of the noble material.
A breathtaking journey
The Glass Street begins in the town of lead crystal, Neustadt a. d. Waldnaab. It leads on its journey through the largest contiguous forest mountain range in Central Europe to towns and communities steeped in tradition and their numerous glassworks and glass refinement sites, all the way to the three-river city of Passau. Glass in all its diversity can be experienced here. Glassblowers let you look over their shoulders as they skilfully and artistically conjure up the most beautiful shapes from a viscous glowing mass. Under expert guidance, visitors can even try their hand at a glassmaker's pipe and blow a crystal ball of individual colour and size. It goes without saying that this is also something very special for children.
The Glass Street makes it possible to experience:
- glass in all its diversity, to look over the shoulders of glass artists, to blow a glass ball yourself and to buy glass where it is produced;
- to explore the magnificent low mountain range landscape of the Bavarian and Upper Palatinate Forests and get to know the people and artists who live there;
- the unique combination of natural beauty (e.g. Bavarian Forest National Park), fascinating glass art as well as impressive glass history.
Type of route: Holiday route
Topic: Everything about glass: Glass production, glass history, glass finishing, culinary, table culture, shopping, glass culture
Start / finish: Neustadt a. d. Waldnaab / PassauWürzburg / Füssen
Length 250 km
Federal State: Bavaria
Holiday regions: Bavarian Forest, Upper Palatinate Forest
The Glass Street for children
There is plenty on offer for the little ones along the Glass Street. The Kinderland in the JOSKA Erlebniswelt Bodenmais, the Bayerwald Zoo in Lohberg, the national park centres and much more will make children's eyes light up. Parents, meanwhile, can relax or take their time and enjoy the range of products on offer at the glassworks. From bargains at a factory sale at Eisch, Nachtmann, Zwiesel Kristallglas or Spiegelau to ornate creations or antique designs at Poschinger, Weinfurtner, Herrmann or Gläserner Winkel, the inclined aesthete can find everything his or her heart desires. There are also unique pieces by internationally renowned glass artists such as Erwin Eisch and Theodor Sellner, or by many young artists with new experimental glass ideas.
Pure nature
The great thing about the German Glass Street is without a doubt the nature that surrounds it. Completely embedded in the Upper Palatinate and the Bavarian Forest, the region is an Eldorado for cyclists, hikers and every nature enthusiast. Names like Goldsteig or the Bavarian Forest National Park speak for themselves. In the town of Regen you can even find a forest made of glass, in Riedlhütte the Forest Glass Garden, in Viechtach the Glass Barn, in Passau the Danube crystal ship, in Zwiesel the largest crystal glass pyramid in the world and a glass chapel. There are no limits to the diversity of approaching the noble material glass in the numerous historical glass locations, glass galleries, glassworks and glass museums on Glasstraße. Just as little as the countless possibilities along the Glass Street to spend an unforgettable vacation.
Glass art
Nowhere are there so many traditional glass processing companies and artists as close together as along the East Bavarian Glass Street. Noble drinking glasses, vases, glass trophies and glass art are made here. The Upper Palatinate Forest and the Bavarian Forest are one of the most outstanding glass centers in Europe. In the past few years, the Glass Street has developed into one of the most popular holiday and excursion routes in Bavaria, because here you can follow glass from its creation to its refinement to the finishing touches. In many huts and factories, work is carried out in front of the visitors. Shopping becomes an experience and every glassworks has its own character.
Route guidance with parking space information
This information is a service offer from ALPINE in cooperation with FERIENSTRASSEN.INFO 
Tourismusverband Ostbayern
Im Gewerbepark D04
D - 93059 Regensburg
GLASS STREET
