Herend is the centre of artistic porcelain production in Hungary. Until quite recently only a select few could explore the mystery of the creation of these wonderful examples of masterful craftsmanship. Today this is an opportunity open to everyone. Herend has been running a visitor centre – home of the creation of porcelain items – offering, if requested, a full day's programme to porcelain enthusiasts. Porcelanium offers high-class entertainment to its visitors. With the help of video films, pot-throwers and professional painters there are demonstrations to show how the porcelain paste will turn into a glossy porcelain item.

Guides show visitors round to see the "magicians' tricks" behind the scenes. It is all there for you to discover – the world's biggest collection of Herend pieces, hosted by the Porcelain Museum and the largest selection of purchasable products in the Victoria Brand Shop – both to be found in Herend. The Apicius Restaurant and Café is a nice way to relax following a lesson of craftsmanship in the manufacturing of porcelain and the first impressions of glossy, shining porcelain items. Here the unique ambiance of intimacy and service out of "Herend sets" might as well be the highlight of the day. So join us for a special tour!

Herend is a place offering special as well as traditional programmes and unconventional opportunities of entertainment for all seasons of the year, expecting art fans, porcelain buffs and everyone else interested in what it has to offer.

We raise the veil from the jealously guarded scenes...

After viewing the Herend film, our local guide will escort our visitors through the Minimanufactory. This is a miniature copy of the Manufactory, a home of ancient knowledge. This is where all that was seen and heard in the film comes to life. This is where you can witness how heavy paste becomes light, fragile porcelain, how nimble fingers shape, decorate and paint the material that is becoming a living thing.

We can follow every facet of the birth of Herend Porcelain in the Minimanufactory: we can look at the work performed on the pottery wheel, the making of a rose, basket weaving, the painting of porcelain with special brushes, and artistic decoration.

There, on site, as we are seeing the masters, it becomes apparent what skill and patience is required for the hard, yet beautiful profession of porcelain making. What we experience here is needed most for us to evaluate and appreciate the value and the craftsmanship of a porcelain object that we buy or receive as a gift.

Until we can verify the truth of this statement in person in the Porcelanium, let us inspect the process of porcelain making on the Technology page, which depicts each phase of porcelain making in a spectacular fashion, as well as on the Herend Club where one can find a professional, detailed description of porcelain manufacturing.