The Bohemian Glass-Making In Nizbor

Bohemian glass (or Bohemian crystal) refers to a decorative glass produced in Bohemia and Silesia, the old regions currently in the Czech Republic. Glass-making has a very long history in the Czech Republic with the finding of ancient glass-making sites dating back to the 13th century in the Northern Bohemia. Until today, Bohemian glass is still famous for its exceptional beauty and artistry.

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemian_glass

The lush Bohemian countryside surrounding the Berounka River in Nizbor.

A pristine village across the Berounka River.

The famous Ruckl Crystal Glass Factory in Nizbor.

The Ruckl Crystal was established in 1846 by the Ruckl family. The company produces a wide range of 24% leaded crystal products, mouth-blown and decorated in many different ways. The latest and most modern factory of Ruckl Crystal was built in 1903 in Nizbor, Czech Republic.

SOURCE: http://www.ruckl.cz/

Another view of the factory with the old chimney tower and the new chimney.

The heating medium of the furnaces in the factory was changed from coal-gas to natural gas in 1996.

SOURCE: http://www.ruckl.cz/

A memory with the owner of the Ruckl Crystal.

Potassium Carbonate, Lead Tetroxide (Red Lead) and Silicon Dioxide (Silica) as raw ingredients in making a crystal glass.

SOURCES:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_carbonate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_tetroxide
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_dioxide

Sodium Carbonate (Soda Ash), Potassium Nitrate (Saltpeter) and Zinc Oxide as raw ingredients in making a crystal glass.

SOURCES:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_carbonate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_Nitrate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc_Oxide

The furnace is heated to the temperature of more than 1000C in order to melt the raw ingredients of glass.

SOURCES:
http://www.wisedude.com/science_engineering/bottles.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glassblowing

The molten glass is gathered from the hot furnace using a blowpipe.

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glassblowing

The air is blown into the molten glass blob in a carved wooden mold to form a solid glass of a specific size and shape, i.e. a technique called mold-blowing.

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glassblowing

A glassblower was sculpting a molten glass blob and another glassblower was extracting a full-blown glass from the mold.

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glassblowing

Ready to blow the molten glass to expand the liquid mass into its approximate final size and shape.

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glassblowing



The hardened, full-blown glass is taken out from the mold.

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glassblowing

Inspecting the quality of the plain glasses and screening for only good ones before the glasses are being decorated.

A crystal glass is decorated according to the blueprint.

Some crystal glasses with design markings.



A crystal glass in the decoration process.



Decorating a crystal glass.



Decorating a crystal glass.

The glass shop in the factory's grounds.

Some Ruckl Crystal products exhibited at the glass shop.

Some Ruckl Crystal products exhibited at the glass shop.

Colors Of Cesky Krumlov Castle 2011

Cesky Krumlov is a town by the Vltava River in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. The construction of the town and the Cesky Krumlov Castle began in the late 13th century. Today, the old Cesky Krumlov is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and well-known for the history and fine architecture of the town and its magnificent castle.

SOURCES:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesky_Krumlov
http://wikitravel.org/en/Cesky_Krumlov

A view of the Bohemian countryside on the way to Cesky Krumlov.

Another view of the beautiful Bohemian countryside.

A cobblestone street leading up to the castle.

The Red Gate, the main gate into the Cesky Krumlov Castle.

The building with sgraffito facade on the right-hand side of the Red Gate is the New Apothecary (Pharmacy) and the beige-colored building on the left-hand side is the Salt House of the castle.

SOURCE: http://www.castle.ckrumlov.cz/docs/en/zamek_oinf_1nadvo.xml

A view of the Castle Tower from the Red Gate.

The Cesky Krumlov Castle's first courtyard, also known as the Romping Ground.

SOURCE: http://www.castle.ckrumlov.cz/docs/en/zamek_oinf_1nadvo.xml

A connecting corridor with Sgraffito decorations, as seen from the first courtyard of the castle.

The first courtyard of the Cesky Krumlov Castle, near the entrance into the second courtyard.

The entrance in the New Burgrave's House connects the first and the second courtyards of the castle.

SOURCE: http://www.castle.ckrumlov.cz/docs/en/zamek_oinf_2nadvo.xml

The New Burgrave's House, the Castle Tower and the Mint bordering the second courtyard of the Cesky Krumlov Castle.

SOURCE: http://www.castle.ckrumlov.cz/docs/en/zamek_oinf_2nadvo.xml

Another view of the second courtyard of the Cesky Krumlov Castle.

The Dairy, the building with sgraffito facade in the second courtyard of the castle.

SOURCE: http://www.castle.ckrumlov.cz/docs/en/zamek_oinf_2nadvo.xml

The connecting corridor between the second and the third courtyards.

A lovely view of Cesky Krumlov from the connecting corridor.

Another view of the historic Cesky Krumlov from the connecting corridor.

A view of the ancient Vltava River which was important in trade routes in Bohemia.

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesky_Krumlov

The third courtyard of the Cesky Krumlov Castle.

SOURCE: http://www.castle.ckrumlov.cz/docs/en/zamek_oinf_3nadvo.xml



The fourth courtyard of the Cesky Krumlov Castle.

SOURCE: http://www.castle.ckrumlov.cz/docs/en/zamek_oinf_4nadvo.xml

The passageway connecting the fourth courtyard to the stone bridge.

A panoramic view of Cesky Krumlov from the stone bridge that connects the fourth courtyard to the fifth courtyard of the castle.

A view of Cesky Krumlov and the Vltava River from the stone bridge.

A view of the newer part of Cesky Krumlov from the stone bridge.

Another view of the newer part of Cesky Krumlov from the stone bridge.

The fortification wall with lookout holes in the fifth courtyard.

The fifth courtyard of the Cesky Krumlov Castle.

SOURCE: http://www.castle.ckrumlov.cz/docs/en/zamek_oinf_5nadvo.xml

A view of Cesky Krumlov from a lookout hole in the fortification wall in the fifth courtyard.

Another wonderful view of the old Cesky Krumlov from a lookout hole in the wall.

Colors Of Prague 2011 - Part IV

The Vltava River Cruise & the Charles Bridge
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Vltava River is the longest river in the Czech Republic, flowing approximately 435 kilometers from its source in the Southwestern Bohemia into the Elbe River in Central Bohemia.

SOURCES:
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/631625/Vltava-River
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vltava
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melnik

Getting onboard the cruise boat.



A beautiful building on the bank of the Vltava River.

Another striking building spotted while cruising on the Vltava River.

The Czech Bridge (Cechuv Most).



Passing by the Rudolfinum and another cruise boat.



The Manes Bridge (Manesuv Most).

The Charles Bridge (Karluv Most) and the Old Town Bridge Tower.

The Charles Bridge (Karluv Most) is a historic bridge that crosses the Vltava River. The construction of the bridge started in 1357 under the order from Emperor Charles IV and only completed in the beginning of the 15th century. The Charles Bridge is protected by three towers, two on the Lesser Quarter (Mala Strana) side and one on the the Old Town (Stare Mesto) side. Until 1841, the Charles Bridge was the only bridge connecting the Prague Castle with the Old Town and its neighborhood.

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bridge

Under the Charles Bridge.

The Charles Bridge, the Old Town Bridge Tower and the beige-colored Bedrich Smetana Museum.

The beautiful Vltava River and the Charles Bridge.

A view of the golden-roofed Narodni Divadlo from the Vltava River.

The inspiring Vltava River and the leafy Strelecky Island in the background.

About to go under the Charles Bridge again...

The historic Charles Bridge and the Old Town Bridge Tower.

The Charles Bridge and the Old Town Bridge Tower.

Some cruise boats lined up at the jetty.

The Florentina Botel (Boat Hotel) moored on the Vltava River waterfront.

The Manes Bridge crossing the Vltava River.

Enjoying the panoramic view of the Vltava River and its serene surrounding.

A stunning view of the ancient Vltava River and the Prague Castle.

A view of the Prague Castle and the Lesser Quarter (Mala Strana) from the Charles Bridge.

A view of the Lesser Quarter Bridge Tower and the Judith's Tower from the middle of Charles Bridge.

The famous Charles Bridge as viewed from the Manes Bridge.