A visit to the Glasi in Hergiswil

Once in a while I have friends from the abroad visiting me in Switzerland. Like any host, I usually want to to show them Switzerland from its best side. At the same time, I like to avoid traveling long distances to get to my destination. That's why I usually take my friends to central Switzerland.

Lucerne is only about a 45 minute drive from Zurich and if you climb one of the mountains around lake Lucerne, for example the Rigi or Pilatus, you have an exellent view of the Alps. Also the city of Lucerne is quite nice and always good for a stroll along the river or the lakeside. Indeed, there are plenty of fun things to do in and around Lucerne to keep you busy a day or two.

Glas Art by Glasi Hergiswil - Joujou / pixelio.de

Visiting the Glass Factory in Hergiswil

A personal favorite of mine is the glass factory in Hergiswil, called 'Glasi Hergiswil'. Especially on a rainy day or in the cold of winter this is a perfect place to visit.

There are several fun activities to do in the various buildings of the Glasi Hergiswil factory:

The museum "Formed by Fire" tells the story of the Glasi Hergiswil and allows you to walk through different stages of Glasi history. Admission is free.
You can enter the glass factory and watch the glassblowers making glass from a balcony inside. It is nice and warm in there. No surprise, since the ovens in there heat the glass to about 1500 degrees Celsius. This is actually my favorite part of the visit. It always surprises me anew to see a clump of glowing mass turned into a beautiful vase or bowl. Admission is free also.
For a fee of 15.- Swiss Francs you can blow your own bowl of glass. Fun and definitely a great souvenir!
The exhibition "Phenomenal Glass" allows you to experience the characteristics of glass in fun ways. There are glass instruments and other experiments for you to play with. Let the child in you feast on this!
The Glasi also hosts the only glass labyrinth of Switzerland. With sound effects and a light show the walk through the labyrinth becomes a real adventure. Admission is 5.- Swiss Francs.

After enjoying all these activities you can stop at one of the shops to buy some beautiful glass plates or bowls or sit in the Glasi cafe and enjoy the view of lake Lucerne with a cup of hot coffee.

For more information and directions check out the Glasi Hergiswil website.

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