Old ironworks in Šindelová, Blast furnace in Šindelová, Czech Republic.

The Old ironworks in Šindelová is a charcoal blast furnace built in 1818, of which only the exposed granite-block shaft remains, about 11 m high and bound with steel tie rods. Beside it survive fragments of the engine house, the water-wheel building and a short stretch of the mill race; the casting house roof rested on stone corbels in the furnace wall.

The ironworks emerged during a period when metal production expanded across northern Bohemia and became economically important. It represents part of the industrial heritage of the Sokolov district, where iron processing played a significant role.

The name Šindelová comes from the German Schindelwald, and ironworking here is first documented in the mid-14th century, when Plik of Plikenštejn obtained mining rights. The Nostic family, who took over the estate in 1627, ran the works until 1909, when they merged with Petzold's ironworks in Nejdek. Look for cast slag bricks in the walls of nearby buildings.

The site sits somewhat apart from main routes and is best explored on foot, though it involves longer walks to reach. The area offers few amenities nearby, so it helps to plan ahead before visiting.

The granite blocks of the furnace shell are held together by steel tie rods, and the massive stone corbels on the outer wall once carried the wooden roof truss of the adjoining foundry. Cast slag bricks made from furnace waste appear on buildings in the surrounding area.