INNSBRUCK
SMALLEST SHOPS OF STIFTGASSE
Sausage n’ Schnapps of the Imperial Pen
The city of Innsbruck is the provincial capital of the Austrian Tyrol.
Established in 1133 simply as a market town where a bridge crossed the
River Inn. In the middle ages the city rose in wealth and prestige as
the center of the Hapsburg Empire, as evidenced today by the magnificent
Hofkirch with the bronze Cenotaph statuary of the ancestors, real and
imagined (see Innsbruck
Hofkirche). In 1765, after her husband, Emperor Franz
I (Francis Stephen of Lorraine), died suddenly
while riding in a carriage returning from
concert performance celebrating the marriage of their son Leopold, the
grieving Empress Maria Theresa gave
away
the street to the public with the signing
of a pen. The alleyway, just around the corner from the Hofkirche
entrance is hence named the Stiftgasse, the “alley of the pen”.
It is on this little corner avenue where you will find the twin curiosity
shops of Innsbruck, the Speckschwemme and the Spezialitaten aus der Stiftsgasse,
sausage and schnapps.
The Speckschwemme, sausage shop is known as the “smallest shop” of
Innsbruck, as only one customer can fit into the shop at one time (or
perhaps two squeezed shoulder to shoulder) with the aromatic array of
Austrian smoked and cured hams (speck, is the name of bacon in German
but encompasses a wide variety) and sausages of all shapes, sizes and
varieties hanging in every corner around the cheerful shop owner Angelika,
tucked behind the tiny pantry counter, more than happy to see the visitors
to her curiosity shop. The little unique store of meats is open Tuesday
through Friday from 9 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm, and from 9 am to 3
pm on Saturdays, closed on Sunday.
Next
to the smallest shop of the Stiftgasse is the only slightly larger schnapps
and wine specialty shop of Herbert Signor. In this ground floor
medieval “cellar” you’ll discover 140 varieties of
the best Austrian schnapps, the heady sweet fruit flavored liqueur from
traditional Tyrolian distilleries, along with fine wines. Herr Signor
will gladly let you taste a sample and pose for a picture. The schnapps
come in infinite flavor profiles from plum and apricot to pear and berries.
You’ll also find a selection of fine wines and brandy as well as
specialty vinegars, flavored oils, jams, honeys and beer steins. Try
the Alpine Eiswein (ice wine) or look for the historic traditional Alps
"cure", Gentian Schnapps, or "Hochwurzener". This
liquor with legendary digestif qualities is made from the roots of the
Gentian
flower.
You
can find this manufactured with flavorings, but the real stuff is a bit
pricey as it takes 100 kilograms of the flower root to make just 6 liters
of schnapps. Take home a real souvenir, rather than the mass produced
brands from tourist shops. The shop is open from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm daily.
On this little street you will also find the Stiftskeller Augustiner
Beer garden restaurant, but you won't find any shops for pens, Imperial
or otherwise. © Bargain
Travel Europe
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See Also:
INNSBRUCK HOTEL GOLDENER ADLER
SKIING
TYROL INNSBRUCK OLYMPIC SKI WORLD
HOFBURG IMPERIAL
PALACE - INNSBRUCK
INNSBRUCK
BELL MUSEUM & FOUNDRY TOUR
HUNGERBURG FUNICULAR & NORDKETTE CABLE CAR
