Manufacture Arribas, official glassblower of Disneyland Paris, opens its doors to you

A plunge into the world of glassblowers... The Manufacture Arribas, located in the Château de Condé Sainte-Libiaire, just a stone's throw from Disneyland Paris in the Val-de-Marne region of France, invites you to discover not only the château and its gardens, but also, and above all, the craft of glassblowing, through visits and workshops during certain periods.

A factory with a rich and fascinating history! In the 1960s, the Arribas brothers, glassblowers from the La Coruña region of Spain, passed on their skills from generation to generation. Their unique know-how sent them to represent Spain at theNew York World's Fair in 1962, where they met a certain Walt Disney, who fell in love with their work. A collaboration followed, and a first boutique in California's Disneyland Park. In 1991, Arribas set up another boutique at Disneyland Paris, when the park opened.

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A company committed to employing a local workforce, trained in the company's techniques. In all, 350 artisans work around the world to bring a little magic to the world through their glass creations. The château was built in the 14th century, burned down during the Wars of Religion and then rebuilt in 1650. The interior of the château dates from the 18th century.

And to reach as many people as possible, the factory opens the gates of its chateau and grounds free of charge to visitors, who can wander among the fountains and other animals, and observe the art of the glassblowers at work in the open air, in the chateau grounds, under several re-closeable halls. The château and grounds can also be privatized for weddings, seminars and other large-scale events.

And as a little anecdote, one of the salons exhibits reproductions of well-known works such as Botticelli' s The Birth of Venus and Klimt's The Kiss. What makes them special? They're painted on glass! And as for the sofas, these are from the Disneyland Hotel, which is currently undergoing renovation (opening in 2024), allowing some of the furniture to be recycled.

In addition, the factory offers workshops for children and their parents all year round, as well as during certain periods - particularly school vacations (All Saints' Day, Christmas, etc.). Come and blow glass with professionals during a 3-hour workshop and create a work of art from A to Z (from age 14 upwards), or try your hand at engraving or sandblasting, and discover a unique craft and know-how. Children can also blow their own glass pumpkins for Halloween in a dedicated workshop (from age 4).

As for the permanent workshops, come and make your own jewelry, blow glass with a blowtorch, or create a unique glass set using the stencil sandblasting technique. In short, the perfect opportunity to discover this wonderful craft! And as part of a partnership with Warner Bros., Manufacture Arribas is offeringHarry Potter fans the chance to discover a boutique specially dedicated to the bespectacled wizard, with hand-painted glassware ranging from potion flasks to the famous wands for which the saga is famous. On weekends, Potterheads can also take advantage of a bar within the castle, the Wizards' Bar, to enjoy tasty cocktails.

It's also rumored that during 2023, potion workshops could well be held in the castle cellars, for a small group lesson with a teacher (not Snape, I promise!). Stay tuned for more news on these upcoming events, and in the meantime, let's sign up for the workshops, shall we?