The Wiener Wüstelstand, or hot sausage stand, is a quintessential part of Vienna’s cityscape – so much so that it has recently been added to UNESCO’s list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Austria. Petra Schäpers, Head of Dorotheum Düsseldorf, and Philip Demeter, Head of Jewellery and Watches, are devotees of this historic Viennese institution.
The Würstelstand Bitzinger is located only a short walk away from the Palais Dorotheum in Vienna’s city centre, nestled between the Opera House and the Albertina reviving sausage and glass of champagne at the end of the night, to Dorotheum’s specialists in need of a hearty boost of energy between auctions.
The Viennese culture of the Würstelstand, or sausage stand has been recognized by UNESCO since 2024 as part of the intangible cultural heritage of Austria. The history of these ubiquitous landmarks goes back to the Austro-Hungarian Empire when disabled war veterans, the so-called Bratlbrater, would scratch a living by selling hot sausages to the citizens of Vienna. Traditionally the food was prepared and sold from mobile cooking stalls, until, in 1969, the erection of permanent structures was granted. Since then, the sausage stands have been a characteristic part of the Viennese landscape. In recent years their number has unfortunately been dwindling, however the recognition they are enjoying and their elevation to part of Austria’s intangible cultural heritage will hopefully secure their future – and reinforce their role as a melting pot of Viennese savoir vivre, and the vibrant home of the local Viennese dialect – and the city’s own special brand of humour: Wiener Schmäh.
The Viennese Würstelstand is far more than just a part of everyday culture – it is also deeply rooted in the city’s art and literature. From the literary city sketches such as Im Schatten der Burenwurst (In the Shadow of the Boer Sausage) by H.C. Artmann, to Erwin Wurm’s sculptures of sausages and pickled gherkins (known to true locals as Krokodü, or crocodiles), the Viennese heart beats for all things sausage!
Glossary:
Hülsn – canned beer
16-er Blech – canned Bier from Ottakring, Vienna’s 16th district
Bugl – end slice of bread
Haaße – Austrian boiled sausage
Eitrige – Austrian sausage with cheese pieces inside
Krokodü – pickled gherkin
Schoarfer – spicy tarragon mustard
Siasser – Kremser mustard (sweet coarsely-ground Austrian mustard)
