The Ittig family has been in the glass business for over 150 years. They settled in Werthem after fleeing communist East Germany in 1958. Today Karl Ittig and his son Hans continue the family glassblowing tradition in Wertheim at their shop called bon-apart. Their gallery is an old half-timbered house on market square built for a knight named Zobel in 1520, and they operate a hot glass facility a couple of miles outside of the old town. The Ittigs also have a small building just off the Wertheim market square where they provide free high-speed Internet access (and a clean toilet) for cruise passengers.
Hans Ittig sailed on the Viking Spirit with us from Wertheim and did a glassblowing demonstration on board as we sailed towards Frankfurt. He was very entertaining, and most of us purchased glass thermometers or other collectibles either in the shop or on the ship. He took orders on the ship, and his colleague delivered the items when he came to pick up Hans at one of the locks. Great planning!
