Viennese Sausages to Enrich Austria's Intangible Cultural Heritage

Viennese sausages might be added to Austria's list of intangible cultural heritage. According to the Mayor of Vienna, sausage stands are an integral part of the city's identity, and the sausages themselves are closely tied to Austrian culture, reports The Mayor.

Several owners of Viennese sausage stands have united to form an association that will advocate for the inclusion of sausages in Austria's intangible heritage list. The association will soon submit an official application to include the "culture of Viennese sausage stands" in the relevant list. Among the most notable public figures supporting this initiative is Vienna's Mayor, Michael Ludwig.

"Viennese sausage stands are inextricably linked to the heart of our city and are more than just places to buy delicious food. They are part of our identity and our history," emphasized Michael Ludwig.

The roots of Vienna's sausage stands trace back to the original mobile food stalls and trading booths from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. They were established to provide employment for war veterans, thereby connecting them to the city's social welfare history.

Permanent sausage stands appeared relatively recently. The Vienna authorities officially permitted them only in 1969. However, the oldest sausage stand still in operation opened in 1928 and is located on Döblinger Gürtel street. It has become an integral part of Austrian pop culture and contemporary literature.

It is worth mentioning that The Gaze reported that a café named "Old School" has opened in Prague, where only elderly people are employed. This social project, initiated by the non-profit organization Elpida, is inspired by a similar concept already operating in Vienna. The café's profits fund other initiatives of the organization aimed at supporting the elderly. The name "Old School" has a double meaning, referring both to the senior staff and the café's location in one of Prague's oldest municipal schools.