Page 329 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Austria

Shopping in A u S tri A  327

and a white, often embroidered
blouse, while the man’s Tracht
includes short or calf-length
leather trousers and a distinctively
cut felt jacket. All this is topped
by a jaunty hat adorned with
feathers or goats’ beard.

Alcoholic Drinks
Most supermarkets stock a
good selection of Austrian
wines, but if you head to one
of the vineyards you can try
before you buy. Visit one of
the many vineyards in the
Wachau Valley or among the
A typical market selling a wide range of goods in Deutschlandsberg hills of Burgenland, and you
can sample the wine, and
Winterschlussverkauf (winter sales) artistic trends of past centuries, even buy direct. One of the
start in the last week of January, from Baroque through Neo- stronger drinks would also
and the Sommerschlussverkauf Classical and Biedermeier right be a good souvenir – try
(summer sales) at the end of up to the present day. Porcelain Weinbrand (cognac), Slivovitz
July. This is a good time to buy goods can be purchased in (plum brandy), Obstler (fruit
clothes, sports equipment and the shop in Graben or from the brandy) or Marillenbrand
shoes. Look for much reduced factory, which is open to visitors. (apricot brandy).
skis, an anorak or a warm coat; Also worth buying is the attractive
or you could find a lovely dress hand-painted pottery from Speciality Foods
or a lightweight suit at half its Gmunden, with colourful
original price or Biedermeier- The most popular purchases
less. Occasionally style flowers, from the food counter are
a shop will sell dots and other Austrian chocolates in their
all its stock at ornamentation. many guises. You can buy
the same price Glassware – good-quality confectionery
in order to make Billa supermarket logo including superb at most supermarkets; popular
room for new chandeliers and chains include Billa, Merkur,
collections. delicate tableware – tends to Interspar, Eurospar, Zielpunkt
Different rules apply to be highly original, although and Hofer, with the latter
electronic goods, for which expensive. Many people also charging the lowest prices.
price reductions are governed collect imaginative crystal There are also smaller food
by supply and demand. Large ornaments such as dogs and stores, especially in the large
department stores tend to cats made by Swarovski. cities, but these are generally
reduce some prices in late more expensive.
autumn, particularly on elec- Crafts and Folk Art
trical goods, but this depends
on individual establishments. Hand-embroidered items, such
There is no fixed season for as tablecloths, are also in great
food price reductions, which demand. The true works of art
may occur at any time. If you in this field are ladies’ evening
are looking for a bargain, purses, miniature pictures and
keep an eye out for the even jewellery, embroidered in
promotional leaflets issued by petit point with 300 to 2,500
most large supermarkets. stitches per sq cm (2,000 to
16,000 stitches per sq inch).
This work, carried out with the
Ceramics and aid of a magnifying glass, is so
Crystal Glass exhausting that it can be done
Austria is famous for its only for a maximum of three
beautiful porcelain from the hours a day.
Augarten factory, based in the Folk costumes are another
Viennese park, where Johann popular purchase. They vary in
Strauss once played his waltzes. the detail, but the woman’s
The decorations on vases, jugs, Dirndl always consists of a skirt Sweets and confectionery in front of a
boxes and tableware reflect the with an apron, a waistcoat shop in Salzburg

326-327_EW_Austria.indd 327 03/09/15 5:45 pm