THE GLASS TOWN
The experience of Holmegaard Works of Wonders begins even before you step inside the glassworks itself. Surrounding the site is the unique Glass Town. Here, workers have lived since the very first productions, staying close to the furnaces.
A glassmaker’s working day begins when the glass reaches the right temperature – and in the early days, that temperature was difficult to control. As a result, glassworkers could be called to work at any time, day or night. For practical reasons, the first workers’ homes were therefore built right next to the glassworks.
The majority of the workforce consisted of foreign glassmakers, who had limited interaction with the surrounding community. Over time, a small, self-contained society grew in the moor, complete with an inn, a general store, a school and a vibrant community life.
GET CLOSE TO LIFE IN THE FACTORY TOWN
In the second half of the 20th century, more people began pursuing the dream of a detached home in the surrounding towns. At the same time, access to higher education broke the long-standing pattern of glassworkers’ children following in their parents’ footsteps at the glassworks. Glassworkers gradually moved further away, and around the turn of the millennium, the Glass Town opened up to residents with no direct connection to the glassworks.
Just as inside the glassworks, the outdoor areas have been restored with care and authenticity. The former ateliers have been renovated and are now rented out to artists, who have their glass produced at Holmegaard Works of Wonders.
As a visitor, you can explore the unique Glass Town, experiencing its atmosphere and rich cultural heritage. Get up close to the original workers’ houses – now over 200 years old and among the oldest buildings at the glassworks – and gain insight into life in a factory town, complete with its own inn, general store, chapel and school.