Gernheim Glass Works, Industry museum in Petershagen, Germany.
Gernheim Glass Works is an industry museum centered on a preserved cone kiln from the 1800s. The site includes workers' houses, a basket weaving workshop, and the former residence of the factory owners.
The works began in the 1700s and became important to the early industrial development of the Westphalia region. The remaining buildings show how the factory operated and how workers lived during that period.
Glassmakers here work using traditional methods passed down through generations, shaping the material with pipes, wooden molds, and scissors. You can watch them demonstrate these skills during visits, seeing firsthand how the craft continues today.
The grounds can be explored on foot, and you should wear sturdy shoes as paths are uneven in places. Guided tours with working craftspeople are available to show how the processes work.
The cone kiln dates to the 1800s and is one of only two such structures still standing in Germany. Its distinctive shape was essential for reaching and maintaining the extreme heat needed for glass production.
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