[3] Harrachov was established in the 17th century, after a glassworks was founded in the area of Ryžoviště, and originally was called just Dörf (German for "little village").

During the rule of Count Ferdinand Bonaventura Harrach (1701–1706), the settlement was renamed Harrachsdorf in his honor.

After World War II, the Silesian lands in the north fell to the Polish People's Republic according to the Potsdam Agreement and the border was closed.

Since the railway station located here was unusable for Poland after the interruption of cross-border traffic (the line to Jelenia Góra returned to Czechoslovak territory in a short section) and the local small settlements were almost inaccessible from the Polish side, the territories was exchanged.

Czechoslovakia acquired the area around former Strickerhäuser (Polish: Tkacze, present-day Mýtiny).

Harrachov is one of the most popular Czech ski resorts including the internationally used Čerťák ski jumping hill (including flying hill); several winter sport events take place in Harrachov regularly.

It is one of the longest-running glassworks in Bohemia that still uses most of the uniquely preserved historical machinery, which makes it an important technical monument.

Its best-preserved part is the grinding plant, which is protected as a national cultural monument.