The meadows surrounding the Alpirsbächle stream are known as Glaswiesen (Glass Meadows), and the forest covering the eastern and uppermost valley slopes is called Glaswald (Glass Forest). According to a report, the remains of a former glassworks were uncovered years ago at the Alpirsbächle, near the Karis spring. Students reportedly found glass flux remnants during excavations at the spring, some of which were cemented together with rock. Based on the name and the aforementioned report, it can be assumed that a glassworks existed in the upper Alpirsbächle valley during the Late Middle Ages/16th century, the operation of which required extensive deforestation.
The wood from the forests provided the potash needed for glass production.
Origin and History of the Name
The Glaswald belonged to the monastery from the Middle Ages onward. With the nationalization of church property at the beginning of the 19th century, ownership of the monastery's forests passed to the state. Today, the Glaswald forests belong to the town of Alpirsbach.