Glasstraße Bavarian Forest with Kids: Glassblowers & Tips

The Glasstraße: one of the most exciting family routes in the Bavarian Forest

Glass has shaped the Bavarian Forest for centuries. The region was one of the most important centres of European glassmaking, and that tradition lives on today in dozens of manufactories, galleries and experience workshops. The Glasstraße (Glass Route) connects these places along a route of around 250 kilometres and leads through some of the most beautiful corners of the region.

For families with children the Glasstraße is a real winner. Instead of dusty museum showcases, you'll find glowing furnaces, skilled glassblowers at work and workshops where your children can lend a hand themselves. From Waldmünchen, you can reach the highlights in Bodenmais and Zwiesel in about 60 to 70 minutes by car.

Joska Bodenmais: the glass paradise for families

If you can only make a single stop along the Glasstraße, then Joska in Bodenmais should be it. The Joska Glasparadies is far more than a factory outlet. On a vast site you'll find an impressive combination of glass art, shopping, gastronomy and experience offerings for children.

Glass art to touch and admire

At the heart of Joska is the glass experience world. Here you can watch the glassblowers directly at work. Through large windows you observe how, in just a few minutes, fine vases, figurines and drinking glasses emerge from glowing lumps of glass. For children this is fascinating, because they see in real time how a craftsperson, with heat and skill, turns a shapeless drop into something beautiful.

The attached glass museum tells you more about the history of glassmaking in the Bavarian Forest. The exhibition is presented vividly and is also understandable for younger children.

The adventure playground at Joska

What makes Joska particularly attractive for families: right on the grounds there is a generously sized adventure playground. While the adults stroll through the galleries and the factory outlet, the children can climb, slide and romp outside. There is also a small petting zoo with goats and rabbits that goes down particularly well with the youngest visitors.

Allow at least two to three hours for Joska. With the playground, glassblower demonstration and a break in the beer garden, it quickly turns into half a day.

Practical info Joska Bodenmais

The site is open year-round, generally daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission to the grounds is free. There are sufficient parking spaces directly on site, also free of charge. The entire grounds are pushchair-friendly.

Zwiesel: glass town with tradition

About 15 minutes from Bodenmais lies Zwiesel, one of the most tradition-steeped glass towns in the Bavarian Forest. Here, everything has revolved around glass for over 500 years, and you can feel that on every corner.

Zwiesel Glass Museum

The glass museum in the town centre shows the development of regional glass art from the Middle Ages to today. The collection includes filigree drinking glasses, colourful art objects and historic tools. Children from around 6 years find the section with the old tools and blowpipes especially exciting, because they understand there how much handiwork goes into every single piece of glass.

Glass Barn

A real highlight is the Glass Barn (Gläserne Scheune) on the outskirts of Zwiesel (more precisely, in the district of Viechtach/Rauhbühl). Here, the glass artist Rudolf Schmid has completely transformed an old barn with stained glass and glass objects. The huge, glowing glass walls tell stories from the Bavarian Forest. Children are thrilled by the colours and light effects. Admission is free, and a visit lasts about 30 to 45 minutes.

Glassblowing yourself: the highlight for children

The absolute highlight for children is the chance to blow a glass ball or small ornament themselves. Several workshops along the Glasstraße offer hands-on workshops where children, under the guidance of an experienced glassblower, may make their own piece of glass.

How it works

A glassblower prepares the glowing gob of glass and then hands the blowpipe to the child. Under careful guidance, the child blows gently into the pipe, shaping a ball or a small vessel. The piece is then slowly cooled. As a rule, you can pick up the finished works the next day or have them sent by post.

Age and safety

Most workshops recommend a minimum age of 5 years. The children do not work directly at the hot furnace but only with the blowpipe under constant supervision. Costs range from 10 to 25 euros per glass piece, depending on the workshop. It is best to reserve in advance, especially during holidays and at weekends.

Where can you try glass art yourself?

In Bodenmais, the Austen glass manufactory regularly offers family workshops. In Zwiesel, the Poschinger glass manufactory is a good address. Best to call ahead before your visit to ask about current workshop times, as dates vary seasonally.

History of glass in the Bavarian Forest

Glassmaking in the Bavarian Forest dates back to the 14th century. Two things made the region the ideal location: the huge forests provided wood for the smelting furnaces, and the quartz sand from the mountains was a perfect raw material for glass production.

In its heyday there were hundreds of glassworks in the Bavarian Forest. The glassmakers were highly respected craftspeople and often lived in remote forest settlements right next to their furnaces. Many place names in the region still recall this period: Hüttenschlag, Glasberg, Kristallhütte.

With industrialisation in the 19th century, many small works closed, but a few manufactories survived and uphold the tradition to this day. The Glasstraße was launched in 1997 as a tourist route to keep this heritage visible and accessible to visitors.

Planning a day trip: how to make the most of it

A day trip from Waldmünchen to the glass highlights can be well structured. Here is a suggestion for families:

Morning in Bodenmais

Set off in the morning (departure around 9 a.m.) and start at Joska. Watch the glassblowers, let the children romp on the playground and take time for the glass galleries. Around midday there is refreshment in the Joska beer garden or in one of the restaurants in Bodenmais.

Afternoon in Zwiesel

After lunch you continue to Zwiesel (15 minutes' drive). Visit the glass museum or the Glass Barn and plan a workshop where the children can blow their own glass ball. In the late afternoon, you head back to Waldmünchen at a relaxed pace.

Parking and travel

In both Bodenmais and Zwiesel there are sufficient free parking spaces near the main attractions. The route from Waldmünchen leads via the B22 and the B85 through hilly forest landscape. The drive itself is already an experience, since you cross some of the most beautiful sections of the Bavarian Forest.

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Discover even more of the Bavarian Forest

The Glasstraße is just one of many destinations easily reachable from Waldmünchen. In our Bavarian Forest Guide you'll find further tips for hikes, nature experiences and family outings in the region.

The Sonnenhotel Bayerischer Hof in Waldmünchen is your perfect starting point for tours along the Glasstraße and beyond. After a day full of sparkling impressions, a cosy family room awaits you.

Plan your family holiday in Waldmünchen now and book directly.