Fipobex-once a glass factory, now a goat farm.

The Fipobex glass factory—now officially known as the Farma Pěnčín (Pěnčín Excursion Complex)—is a former mom-and-pop beadmaking operation in Pěnčín, roughly 10 km southeast of Jablonec nad Nisou. Facing financial struggles against larger conglomerates, the company diversified into an agritourism and craft center.

History & EvolutionTraditional Beadmaking: For generations, the Jablonec region was a hub for glass bead and trinket production. Operating as an independent manufacturer, Fipobex employed over a hundred workers at its peak producing traditional Bohemian glass beads.

Industrial Decline: As larger operations like Preciosa expanded, smaller independent manufacturers lost the technology and market share required to compete on high-quality, high-volume seed beads. Fipobex was forced to shrink its workforce to a fraction of its size.

Diversification: To survive the downturn, factory owner Josef Nagy adapted by shifting toward specialized markets and experiential tourism. Today, the site operates as a multi-attraction complex featuring a goat farm, cheese-making facility, agricultural museum, and a craft shop.

Visitor InformationThe Kozí farma Pěnčín continues to welcome visitors for both guided and self-guided experiences:

Glass & Craft Workshops: Visitors can tour the traditional bead-cutting and grinding factory (mačkárna, brusírna) and create their own jewelry in the beading workshops.

Goat Farm & Dairy: You can tour the working organic eco-farm, pet the animals, and sample/buy local goat and sheep cheeses in the onsite dairy shop (sýrárna).And also eat goat meat in the restaurant. We’ve done all the things listed, eaten goat meat, goat cheese, petted the live stock, taken the train up the mountain, bought beads in the wholesale warehouse, bought beads (actually vintage glass grapes when they made fruit chandeliers ), and toured the glass pressing floor. At the time, Fipobex was a big operation.

Sightseeing: The complex offers rides on an open-air tourist train that travels through the countryside to nearby sites like the Kittel house and the Černá Studnice observation tower.

Location & Hours: Farma Pěnčín is located at Pěnčín 60, 468 21. It is open year-round with varying seasonal hours (typically Monday–Friday in winter; daily in summer).