Intangible Cultural Heritage in Austria

Oral Traditions

Narration in Montafon

Applicant: Dr. MMag. Edith Hessenberger, MMag. Michael Kasper, Bürgermeister Rudi Lerch
Province: Vorarlberg

In Montafon, a mountain valley in the Austrian province of Vorarlberg, narrative communities have originated from the locals‘ daily communication. The content, moral concepts and patterns of their local legends and tales date back to the 19th and 20th century. Today, this narrative tradition is still an integral element of the community, cherished both on a daily basis as well as on special occasions. Numerous cultural initiatives and tradition bearers in Montafon actively contribute to the collection and preservation of this local narrative tradition, which has been of interest to researchers since the 19th century.


Classical Horsemanship and the High School of the Spanish Riding School

Applicant: Spanische Hofreitschule - Bundesgestüt Piber Ges.ö.R., Mag. Erwin Klissenbauer
Province: Vienna

To this day, the Spanish Riding School communicates the high art of classical horsemanship by passing it down orally from one generation of horsemen and horsewomen to the next as well as displaying it publicly in equestrian performances. Young aspiring horsemen learn valuable lessons both from their more advanced peers, as well as from the stallions themselves.


Songs of the Lovara

Applicant: Ruzsa Nikolić-Lakatos
Province: Burgenland, Vienna

Songs are an important part of the Lovara’s cultural tradition. The history behind the name of this Roma group leads us back to their former occupation as “horse traders” (“Lovara”). Their songs are mostly about the family and community, yet the role of the individual and the former ways of life of the Lovara are also mirrored in them. These songs are like a reservoir for their language, as they contain phrases and metaphors typical of the Lovara, which have now (almost) become extinct in everyday life.


Story telling

Applicant: Helmut Wittmann
Province: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Vienna

Story telling is the art of entertaining people in a playful and intellectual way by recounting fairy tales.


The Ötztal dialect

Applicant: Prof. Dr. Hans Haid, Ötztal-Archiv des Ötztaler Heimatvereins
Province: Tyrol

The Ötztal dialect (Oetz Valley, Tyrol), with its 900 years of unchanged tradition, represents the strongest of all components that make up the Ötztaler population’s local identity.


"Roman" - the language of the Romani people of Burgenland

Applicant: Barbara Schrammel i.V. Verein [spi:k] und Emmerich Gärtner-Horvath i.V. Verein Roma Service
Province: Burgenland

“Roman” is a variety of the Romany language, specific to the Romani people living in Burgenland and exclusively spoken in Austria. The history of the language Roman reaches back over 500 years and is still used in the prevalent media of the Romani people of Burgenland. It is mainly spoken in the intimate circle of the family, but also amongst friends and other members of its ethnic group.


Slovenian field and house names in Carinthia

Applicant: Vertreter der Bürgerinitiativen, Vinko Wieser
Province: Carinthia

Traditional Slovenian field and house names are key to understanding the economic, socio-historical and linguistic development of Carinthia and its surroundings. They form part of the cultural heritage of Carinthian Slovenes, as well as the German-speaking inhabitants of the region.


Farmland names of Vorarlberg

Applicant: Mag. Dieter Petras, Thomas Gamon und BM Mag. Harald Sonderegger
Province: Vorarlberg

Due to the fact that large distances often separate the farmland from villages and farm yards, it used to be very important to specify the exact location when finalising contracts, constructing path descriptions and calculating the contributions. Over hundreds of years, these farmland names formed a natural part of the rural realities of life. Only during the profound agricultural restructuring which occurred after the Second World War (mainly in the 1960s) did many of these farmland names become obsolete and threatened by extinction.


Performing arts

Sword dance of Dürrnberg

Applicant: Hermann Gfrerer i. V. Schwerttanz Verein der Dürrnberger Bergknappen
Province: Salzburg

The sword dance of Dürrnberg has been performed for the past 500 years and is closely linked to the salt refinery and mining industry of Salzburg. This round and chain dance, originally rooted in the medieval tradition of artisans and guild dances, was primarily exercised by miners at guild festivals and other great days. Until today, the sword dance is only performed at special occasions.


Carol Singing in Heiligenblut

Applicant: Obmann Hans Schacher i.V. Rotte Hof Heiligenbluter Sternsinger
Province: Carinthia

The 16th century tradition of carol singing in Heiligenblut (Carinthia) has been kept alive until today mostly in its original form. The star song (“Sternlied”) or the blessing of houses using the “CMB” saying (“Christus Mansionem Benedicat” – May Christ bless this house) which is written in chalk over the front door, are still fundamental elements of this tradition.


The “Landler“ of the Innviertel

Applicant: LEADER - Regionen Innviertel und Pramtal
Province: Upper Austria

The history of the Landler of the Innviertel is inseparably linked with the “Zechen“ of the Innviertel. Originally, Zechen were entirely rural confraternities that not only cultivated a form of conviviality, but induced their own combination of dance (“Eicht“), music, poetry and song in a great artistic achievement called the Landler of the Innviertel.


Jew's Harp Play

Applicant: Obmann Dr. Franz Kumpl für den Österreichischen Maultrommelverein
Province: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Vienna

The playing of the Jew‘s harp is one of the oldest music practices of mankind and particularly common among the Asian Turkic people as well as in Europe. The Jew‘s harp is a bordun instrument, which is made out of different metals and bamboo. For this reason, different centres of unique production and styles of play have emerged over time, each of which has grown historically and become embedded in the regional folk culture. Molln in Upper Austria can be named as an example of such a centre. Here, a style of play named “solo instrument“ has developed, where two or more instruments of different voices complement each other in an innovative, musical way.


Austrian folk dance movement

Applicant: Dr. Helmut Jeglitsch, Vorsitzender der Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Österreichischer Volkstanz
Province: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Vienna

The Austrian folk dance movement is rooted in the research and collecting activity of a few persons at the end of the 19th century. It has borrowed much from rural traditions, despite the fact that these elements have mostly become indistinguishable. Concurrently to the systematisation and chronicling of the various dances, a concentration and alignment towards Austrian peculiarities was begun. Yet, instead of simply collecting and safeguarding the dances for posterity, they are increasingly taught and thus saved from extinction.


Passion Play in Erl

Applicant: Passionspielverein Erl
Province: Tyrol

For the past 400 years, the traditional Passion Play, originating from the Christian Easter Drama, has been taking place in a six-year cycle in Erl. Despite its international reputation and many visitors, these traditional Christian games owe their conservation particularly to the inhabitants of Erl, as they - instead of professional actors - regularly find themselves on stage.


“Ruden“ Dance in Sierning

Applicant: Rudenkomitee Sierning
Province: Upper Austria

Up until the twentieth century, the Austrian folk dance “Landler” had been known as a "dance for all" throughout the Southern German-speaking areas and beyond. In the Traunviertel, a region in the province of Upper Austria, a very particular manifestation of the Landler has been handed down by the so-called "Ruden".


Carol singing in the Tyrolian Villgraten Valley (Inner and Outer Villgraten)

Applicant: MMag. Robert Schmidhofer, Hermann Lanser
Province: Tyrol

Every year between Christmas and the Epiphany, the traditional carol singing takes places in the Tyrolian Villgraten Valley. For two days, two groups wander from house to house to sing traditional New Year’s carols.


Viennese Yodeling

Applicant: Mag. Agnes Palmisano
Province: Vienna

Viennese-style yodeling is an important element of the local musical culture. Tootling is an important element of the Viennese singing culture. Its origins go back to the beginning of the 19th century, when Tyrolean singers’ societies toured European cities to introduce the population to the tradition of yodeling. In Vienna, yodeling was primarily developed in Ottakring and Hernals (16th and 17th Districts).


Social Practices

"Anklöpfeln" in the Tyrolean lowlands

Applicant: Joch Weißbacher i. V. Oberauer Anklöpfler
Province: Tyrol

„Anklöpfeln“ (dialect for “to knock”) is a practice cultivated in the Tyrolean lower Inn valley. Here, a group of mostly male singers dress up as shepherds and visit the neighbouring houses on the three Thursdays before Christmas (“knocking nights”). The singers are invited into the homes and strike up several songs to herald the Christmas message of the birth of Jesus Christ.


“Aperschnalzen” in the historic Rupertiwinkel

Applicant: Ing. Ernst Müller, Ehrenobmann Schnalzergruppe Wals
Province: Salzburg

The "Aperschnalzen" refers to a more than 200-year-old tradition practiced in the historic region Rupertiwinkel, which includes several villages on both sides of the border rivers Saalach and Salzach in Bavaria (Germany) and Salzburg (Austria). Between St. Stephen's Day (26 December) and Shrove Tuesday, the "Passen" (groups of nine persons) smack their whips (“Goaßln”) during their meetings often and fast in order to produce a certain beat.


Mountain fires at the Ehrwalder Talkessel in Tyrol

Applicant: Karlheinz Somweber, Erich Steiner, Martin Senftlechner, Gebhard Schatz, Ehrwald e.V
Province: Tyrol

Every year, the mountain fires at the Ehrwalder Talkessel in Tyrol burn brightly around the summer solstice of June 21. Each participating group chooses a figure that is to be drawn, drafted according to the inclination of ground and built using different types of fuel. These figures, which are always topical and up-to-date, are not revealed before June 21.


Mining culture in Bleiberg

Applicant: Bergmännischer Kulturverein und Marktgemeinde Bad Bleiberg
Province: Carinthia

For centuries, coal mining constituted the economic basis of life for the inhabitants of Bad Bleiberg. Even though the mine in Bad Bleiberg (Carinthia) has been closed since 1992, numerous initiatives try hard to safeguard and transfer the traditions passed down by the “Knappenkultur”: the miners’ language, sloping tunnels, “Knappenspiel” (a form of theatre play performed in mines), “Ledersprung” and the Saint Barbara mass (both in honour of the miners’ patron). Traces of this culture can be found in house and field names, the performing arts and throughout society.


“Bloch-pulling” in Fiss

Applicant: Verein "Blochziehen Fiss": Obmann Christian Kofler, Obmannstellv. Thomas Wachter
Province: Tyrol

The “bloch-pulling” in Fiss (“bloch” is the trunk of a stone pine) belongs to the largest carnival traditions in the Alpine region. It takes place every two years, the “bloch-pulling” of the adults taking turns with the children’s “bloch-pulling” (for six to fourteen-year-olds). At the end of autumn, the fetching of the “Bloch” tree occurs, where a magnificent stone pine is felled, guarded and placed on three sledges two days prior to the carnival procession. On the day of the procession, the participating figures assemble at the village centre and – at the command of the wagoner – the “Bloch” is put into motion by numerous masked persons. Witches and devils (“Schwoaftuifl”) attempt to hamper the moving of the “Bloch”. Playful elements are not only an essential detail, but also serve as entertainment for the spectators. Once the “Bloch” has arrived at the school house, it is then auctioned off.


Rag Procession in Ebensee

Applicant: Johannes Scheck i. V. Verein Ebenseer Fasching
Province: Upper Austria

The annual rag procession in Ebensee is a carnival procession on Shrove Monday in and around Ebensee, whose exact beginning has not yet been identified. The participants, the so-called “rags”, dress up in old women’s clothes with rags sewed onto them. In addition, they wear a "rag hat" as well as an elaborately carved wooden mask.


"Glöcklerlauf" in Ebensee

Applicant: Edi Promberger
Province: Upper Austria

The tradition of the “Glöcklerlauf” on January 5 (a specific type of race where participants carry large decorated caps made of paper on their heads) originated in Ebensee (Upper Austria) and spread throughout the whole Salzkammergut region around the Wolfgangsee (“Lake Wolfgang”) to Styria. Recent decades have shown increased interest in this tradition in large parts of Salzkammergut because the region’s potential as a tourist attraction has officially been acknowledged.


Imst Carnival - "Schemenlaufen"

Applicant: Die Gemeinschaft der Imster Fasnachtler, Obmann Uli Gstrein, Mag. Manfred Thurner
Province: Tyrol

The Imst Carnival (Tyrolian Upperland) is a form of carnival procession with 26 different sorts of masks that takes place every four years.


Carnival Nassereith - “Schellerlaufen“

Applicant: Obmann Spielmann Gerhard im Namen vom Fasnachtskomitee Nassereith für die Gemeinschaft der Nassereither Fasnacht
Province: Tyrol

The Carnival Nassereith - also called “Schellerlaufen“ since 1951 - is a carnival tradition that takes places every three years on a day between Epiphany (6 January) and Ash Wednesday in the village of Nassereith in Tyrol. The procession forms the heart of the Carnival Nassereith, distinguishing itself through its colourfulness and the typical wooden masks. During the procession, the “Schellerlaufen“ is performed according to precise rules that have been passed down from generation to generation together with the knowledge of the manufacturing of the masks, costumes and other carnival accessories. Since 1923, a Carnival Committee is elected every six years, which is responsible for the organisation and execution of the carnival.


Festive Practices of the Citizen and Shooting committees of the district of Murau

Applicant: Obmann Rudolf Paschek für den Bezirksverband der Bürger- und Schützengarden des Bezirkes Murau
Province: Styria

Five Citizen and Shooting Committees exist in the district of Murau in the Austrian province of Styria. Several times a year, they participate as ceremonial guards in festive events and religious processions, thereby contributing to the solemnity of each occasion. Due to their traditional connection to the church, the Committees‘ attendance at Corpus Christi and the Patronal Feast are certainties. The guards also serve as honorary patrons of jubilees, weddings and visits of high-ranking personalities. They are characterised by their traditional uniforms, armaments and typical march. Most of their existing formations have evolved over the last 500 years, either from local security forces or as protection against protestant “disruptions“ during the time of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation.


Bonfire Sunday

Applicant: Mag. Hanno Platzgummer i.V. Funkenzunft Oberdorf
Province: Vorarlberg

The celebration of Bonfire Sunday (“Funkensonntag“), a holiday on the first Sunday after Ash Wednesday, is commonplace throughout the whole of Vorarlberg. Each community organizes its own bonfire (“Funken”). Vorarlberg’s largest city, Dornbirn, is famous for having several bonfires, which are arranged by a variety of bonfire guilds.


"Perchten" of Gastein

Applicant: Andreas Mühlberger i.V. Verein Gasteiner Perchten
Province: Salzburg

The tradition of the „Perchten“ in Gastein takes us back in time to the historic “carnival runs” during the Renaissance and the Rococo. The “Perchten run” takes place every four years between New Year’s Day and the Epiphany in the region of Bad Gastein and Bad Hofgastein. Amongst the circa 140 different figures that participate in the run, there are around 30 cap wearers (“Kappenträger”) with impressive headdresses, some of which are several meters high. These cap wearers bring blessings and good wishes to the audience by way of short dances and a bow at the command of the “Perchten” captain.


"Hundstoaranggeln"

Applicant: Salzburger Rangglerverband, Landesobmann Hans Bernsteiner
Province: Salzburg

“Hundstoaranggeln” (a type of physical competition or form of wrestling match) is probably the oldest sport found in the Alps. It has its roots in the 14th century and takes place at the “Hoher Hundstein” in Pinzgau (Salzburg).


"Lichtbratl"-Monday in Bad Ischl

Applicant: Hannes Heide, Bürgermeister der Stadtgemeinde Bad Ischl
Province: Upper Austria

Every year on the Monday after Michaelmas (29 September), the “Lichtbratlmontag” (“Monday of the lighting roast”) is celebrated in Bad Ischl. It derives from an old custom, where the master used to treat his workers to a roast, as artificial lighting had to be used again from that day onwards. Today, this “Lichtbratlmontag” is a festive gathering for all jubilarians from the age of 50 upwards with milestone birthdays, who were either born or reside in Bad Ischl.


"Mullen" and "Matschgern" in the MARTHA villages

Applicant: Martin Kapferer i.V. Gemeinschaft der Muller und Matschgerer der Stadtteile Mühlau und Arzl bzw. der Dörfer Rum, Thaur und Absam
Province: Tyrol

“Mullen” and “Matschgern” (derives from “mask”/ “to mask”) is a century-old tradition, which is carried out on the night of Shrove Tuesday in the MARTHA villages north of Innsbruck. Each figure has a role allocated, the witches being precursors, other figures like the mirror-“tuxer” simply impressing with their imposing appearance, while others act as constables. The climax of the hustle and bustle is the so-called “Mullen” or “Abmullen”, a form of testimony of honour, where the bearer of the custom chooses a person from the audience to rub his shoulders and give him a little smack on the back.


Carnival run of Murau

Applicant: Mag. Alfred Baltzer und Ing. Rudolf Paschek, i.V. Arbeitskreis Volkskultur Murau
Province: Styria

This exhausting and elaborate procession and “Heische” tradition (a custom of asking for alms) takes place in regular intervals of two to five years on a certain day of the year - typically on Carnival Monday - in several villages in the district of Murau. The equipment of the carnival runners commemorates the former clothing of threshers, while the appearance and the number of carnival runners as well as their accompanying figures show slight regional differences. The participating groups and figures move either by vehicle or by foot from yard to yard and have to overcome obstacles before being allowed to enter. These typically comprise either overcoming a tightened chain (Speng) or accepting a challenge for a duel.


Wine guardian procession in Perchtoldsdorf

Applicant: Christian Neumayer i.V. für die Weinhüter; Franz Distl i.V. für den Weinbauverein der Marktgemeinde Perchtoldsdorf
Province: Lower Austria

The wine guardian procession has remained a constant element of the Perchtoldsdorfer wine growers’ annual traditions, even though the profession of guardian became obsolete and died out in the 1970s.


“Tresterer“-Dance of Pinzgau of the folklore association Salzburg Alpinia

Applicant: GTEV ALPINIA Salzburg vertreten durch Erwin Laubichler
Province: Salzburg

The “Tresterer“-Dance of Pinzgau is a special, regional manifestation of the Perchtenlaufen in positive, beautiful costumes. On the 5th of January - the night before the Epiphany - this circular dance consisting of jumping and stomping in traditional costumes is performed at dusk while moving from house to house in Pinzgau.


Shooting clubs in Salzburg

Applicant: Herbert Handlechner i.V. Landesverband der Salzburger Schützen
Province: Salzburg

Shooting clubs are an important component of Salzburg traditions. Even though the actual shooting equipment used differs from place to place (it ranges from traditional wooden weapons to different types of canons or fireworks (“Prangerstutzen”)), club activities are quite constant across different communities.


"Samsontragen" in Lungau and Murau

Applicant: Gauverband der Lungauer Heimat- und Brauchtumsvereinigungen, Gauobmann Eduard Fuchsberger
Province: Salzburg, Styria

In Austria, the tradition of “Samsontragen“ can only be found in Lungau (Salzburg) and in two communities in the adjacent federal province of Styria. These regions, however, consider this tradition, which attracts innumerable guests every year, to be a firm part of their annual rites.


Silent Night - the Christmas carol

Applicant: MMag. Michael Neureiter i.V. Stille-Nacht-Gesellschaft
Province: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Vienna

The song “Silent Night! Holy Night!” was composed in 1818 and has since become a focal point in peoples’ Christmas celebrations, both in the trusted circle of family and friends as well as ecclesiastic festivities, particularly the Christmas Mass. For many, “Silent Night” is the mother of all Christmas carols.


"Schleicherlaufen" in Telfs

Applicant: Fasnachtkomitee Telfs, Obmann Dr. Stephan Opperer
Province: Tyrol

Approximately 500 men participate actively in the “Telfer Schleicherlaufen“ tradition (an event with costumes and dance that centers around Shrove Tuesday); a number of chronicles report that many families have participated in this tradition for generations. The participants (all male) come together every five years to form new groups. Many people in Telf (Tyrol) are in close contact with each other during the preparations for Shrove Tuesday due to creating costumes and piecing together jewelry.


Association for mutual assistance in fire emergencies (“ancillary service”)

Applicant: Verein für gegenseitige Hilfeleistung bei Brandfällen ,Nebenleistung', Obmann Johann Wimmer
Province: Lower Austria

This association is the self-help organization of the community of St. Oswald in the Yspertal (Lower Austria). This association supports the region’s inhabitants either financially or by other means after fire emergencies. In short, the organization is an “ancillary service“.


Tamsweg Union

Applicant: Die Vereinigten zu Tamsweg, Kommissär Dr. Raimund Schiefer
Province: Salzburg

The Tamsweg Union was founded in 1738 by craftsmen from Lungau and has been maintained by workers ever since, thereby making it the oldest existing union in the area around the market town of Tamsweg (Salzburg). Members attend funerals, accompany church processions and hold the “Vereinigtenoktav”, a week-long festival celebrated every year between January 1 and the first Saturday after Ash Wednesday. In addition to members of the Tamsweg Union, members of confraternities from other federal states attend these festivities.


Viennese Coffee House Culture

Applicant: Klub der Wiener Kaffeehausbesitzer, Klubobmann KommR Maximilian K. Platzer
Province: Vienna

The tradition of the Viennese Coffee House Culture goes back to the end of the 17th century and is given distinction to by a very specific atmosphere. Typical for Viennese Coffee Houses are marble tables, on which the coffee is served, Thonet chairs, boxes (loges), newspaper tables and interior design details in the style of Historicism. Guests can choose from the selection of meals and drinks from early morning at 6am until midnight, while sometimes also enjoying readings and musical soirées. The coffee houses are a place “where time and space are consumed, but only the coffee is found on the bill.”


"Niglo"-procession of Windischgarsten

Applicant: Jörg Strohmann i.V. Obmann des Heimat- und Museumsvereins Windischgarsten, beauftragtes Mitglied des Trachtenvereins d’Garstnertaler
Province: Upper Austria

The „Niglo“-procession on the eve of St. Nicholas’ Day (6 December) is a regular annual occurrence during Advent. About 30 persons participate, amongst them the night guard, the “Niglo” husband (a man in urban clothing) and the “Niglo” wife (a young woman in a white dress and a crown), several “Nigeln” (Krampuses with nymphs dressed up in fur, with clamps and rods hanging from their bodies), some angels, the devil, St. Nicholas and several supporting characters.


Firecracker-shooters of Wirling

Applicant: Matthias Plamberger i.V. Verein Traditionsschützen Wirling
Province: Upper Austria

The traditional shooting club of Wirling is probably the only one in Austria which is authorised to carry out the consuetudinary firecracker shooting. The main purpose of the shooters is to participate in religious and secular celebrations, such as weddings, ecclesiastic festivities, processions as well as the shooting on the Twelve Nights after Christmas. The specially-constructed firecracker cannon is placed on higher grounds and, depending on the occasion, fired at exactly the appointed time. Before shooting the next firecracker, it is important to wait until the end of the echo produced by the bang, as this may last up to twelve seconds.


Practices concerning nature

Three-step-agriculture in the Bregenz Forest

Applicant: Michael Moosbrugger i.V. Verein zur Förderung der Bregenzerwälder Käsekultur
Province: Vorarlberg

Due to the fact that the amount of non-silo fodder from the in-house production of the farm yards in the Bregenz Forest does not suffice for the livestock all year-round, the local farmers apply a well-tried agricultural practice called the “three-step-agriculture”. As part of this seasonal cycle of the three-step-agriculture, (part of) the family drives the livestock from the farmyard, first to the “Vorsäß” (a low mountain pasture) in late spring and then to the alp at the beginning of July.


Falconry

Applicant: HR Dr. Harald Barsch, Österreichischer Falknerbund und Zentralstelle Österreichischer Falknervereine (ZÖF)
Province: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Vienna

Falconry is the art of hunting with birds. In a strict sense, the term “falconry” is understood as hunting with specially trained falcons. However, hawks, sparrow hawks and eagles have also been introduced to the discipline. Falconry also allows for the breeding of birds of prey.


Healing knowledge of Pinzgauer men and women

Applicant: TEH Verein, Obfrau Theresia Harrer, GF Mag. Karin Buchart
Province: Salzburg

The accumulated knowledge of cures and their practical application in Pinzgau (Salzburg) was first documented in writing in the course of a 2005 survey. A specific list holds details of the indications and effects of 106 different cures. Remedies such as pitch, arnica or amber are available locally and constitute an important element of the region’s cultural context. The healing knowledge of Pinzgauer men and women has traditionally been handed down as oral know-how and comprises a variety of cures, indications, effects and active ingredients, which are passed on according to the “master-pupil principle”. For a recipe to be passed down, its effectiveness must have proven successful over centuries.


Bird catching in Salzkammergut

Applicant: Salzkammergutverband der Vogelfreunde, Obmann Alfred Riezinger
Province: Upper Austria

The tradition of catching birds in Salzkammergut involves the capture of individual local woodland birds in autumn, and the woodland bird exhibition on the last Sunday before “Kathrein” (a religious holiday on November 25). This show features birds that stand out because of their colour, physical integrity and their flawless condition. It also provides information on their keeping in aviaries after the bird catching season. The birds are fed with local food that is collected throughout the year. Apart from decoys, all birds are set free again in springtime.


Transhumance – the driving of sheep in the Oetztal Alps

Applicant: Kulturverein Schnals; Verein Pro Vita Alpina Österreich
Province: Tyrol

The transhumance in the Oetztal Alps is a special form of sheep driving hikes. These hikes go over the peaks of Timmelsjoch (2494m), the Hochjoch (2885m) and the Niederjoch (3017m) and are the only cross-border transhumance in the Alps that leads across glaciers. They not only cross climatic but also national borders. Every year in early summer, around 5,000 to 5,500 sheep from South Tyrol are led to the Oetztal pastures and back again in autumn.


The knowledge of hazel spruce as tone wood

Applicant: Kassian Erhart, Verein Forum Haselfichte
Province: Tyrol

Due to its genetically-encoded hazel growth, the hazel spruce (“Haselfichte”) can mostly be found in the forests of the Alps at an altitude of 1,200 meters above sea level. Only very few experts are able to identify this quality of wood on an upright tree. The hazel spruce is clearly identifiable by removing a small piece of bark from the part of the tree where small, longitudinal furrows run down its trunk. The hazel spruce has always been used for the construction of instruments, as its specific characteristics satisfy the high demands in wood quality.


Traditional Craftsmanship

Pharmaceutical specialities

Applicant: Kurapotheke Bad Ischl, Mag. Manfred Heimo Hrovat
Province: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Vienna

Pharmaceutical specialties have been part of local traditions for a long time and include knowledge on nature, cures and healing that had formerly been passed down orally, and have since been documented in recipe books. The making of these products requires certain special instruments, pharmaceutical resources and skills. Austrian pharmacists consider this transferred knowledge as part of their cultural heritage.


Bodensee’s headdress in Lamé lace

Applicant: Michael Selb, Trachtengruppe Feldkirch
Province: Vorarlberg

The “Bodensee-Radhaube”, a wheel-shaped bonnet, is unique due to its ornaments, which are made of gold and silver thread of equal quality on either side. The bonnet is typically worn in combination with traditional (Austrian) dress (“Tracht”) on festive occasions such as dance performances or festivals.


Blue printing in Burgenland

Applicant: Joseph Koó
Province: Burgenland

Indigo blue printing in Burgenland involves the dyeing of fabric with the help of a special type of printing technique called “Reservedrucktechnik”. Traditionally, wood patterns and paste are used to apply the requested design onto the fabric, which is subsequently dyed indigo. It is said that textile printing was probably discovered by chance and can now be traced back for centuries in countries such as Hungary, Turkey, the Czech Republic or Egypt.


Gunsmiths of Ferlach

Applicant: Kulturring Ferlach, Dipl. Ing. Rainer Adamik
Province: Carinthia

The gunsmith crafts of Ferlach (Carinthia) are based on specialist work. The shaper works on the wood of the gun shaft and the engraver on the surface of the metal parts, while the gunsmith himself assembles the different parts, depending on the use of the object. When orders from the general public decreased during the 19th century, the gunsmiths started to mainly focus on the production of hunting weapons.


Reverse glass painting in Sandl

Applicant: Norbert Pölz, Johann Pum, Elisabeth Traxl, Elsa Stelzmüller
Province: Upper Austria

With the immigration of Northern Bohemian glass refinement specialists, the craft of reverse glass painting arrived in Buchers and Sandl in the Muehlviertel district around 1760. Along with the Southern part of Bohemia and the Waldviertel district, the two municipalities have since been famous for their glass refinement industry. The good availability of the resources wood and quartz sand certainly favoured this development.
In Sandl, the images were handcrafted in the surrounding glass huts and local homes in order to be sold at fairs and pilgrimage sites or distributed by “Kraxentraegern“ (couriers) across the countries of the Danube Monarchy. Initially, it had mostly been individual craftsmen who had wished to increased their small income with the painting of glass plates - later on, the production turned into a work-sharing process, such as can be found in families. Today, one full-time reverse glass painter and a number of part-time painters can be found continuing this tradition in Sandl.


Bobbin lace in Salzburg

Applicant: Verein TAURISKA & Monika Thonhauser
Province: Salzburg

The origin of the lace leads us back to the Renaissance. It was not only applied to protect textile products from fraying, but also to decorate them elaborately. Its high demand turned the lace-making craft in Salzburg into an industry of trans-regional importance. Hence, an independent style of lace developed.


Charcoal burning

Applicant: Peter Wieser, Vorstandsmitglied im Europäischen Köhlerverein und Sprecher der österreichischen Köhler
Province: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Vienna

Charcoal burning ("Köhlerei") is a traditional craftsmanship derived from rural life, which primarily serves the manufacturing of wood charcoal. Hermetically sealed wood is heated up by way of dry distillation and carbonised across a period of several weeks, turning it thereby into preferably pure carbon.


Basket Making - weaving with willow, straw and wood split

Applicant: Stainzer Korbflechter und Besenbinder aus dem Blaurackenverei LEiV, Kulturverein Gniebing/Weißenbach, Korbflechter aus Fruttendorf-Gießelsdorf
Province: Styria

The handcraft of making baskets out of different natural materials has been an important part of everyday life for over thousands of years. The baskets that were woven, sewn and made from willow, straw and split wood were used for carrying and storing various things. In many parts of Austria, basket weaving used to be an important regional industry. Particularly the region of South-Eastern Styria is known for having developed its extensive knowledge and a wealth of diverse weaving techniques.


Bread making in the Lesach Valley

Applicant: Lesachtaler Mühlenverein und Kulturvereine Liesing, Mario Lugger und Hans Guggenberger
Province: Carinthia

The tradition of bread making in the Lesach Valley (Carinthia), especially in the communities of Maria Luggau and Liesing, includes grain cultivation and extraction (in a specific mountain farming region), the most important facts on mill construction, particular idioms and sayings, rituals (e.g. to draw three crosses before cutting bread, to place a palm cross in the field), the annual mill festival in Maria Luggau and the local village and bread festival.


Stove and fireplace masonry in Burgenland

Applicant: Dr. Susanna Steiger-Moser i.V. Museum für Baukultur Neutal
Province: Burgenland

The villages Neutal, Ritzing and Sigless (Burgenland) have a strong tradition of stove and fireplace craftwork. Even in families without direct links to this sector, the identification with these handicrafts is very strong.


Resin extraction in Lower Austria

Applicant: Ernst Schagl i.V. Arbeitsgemeinschaft niederösterreichische Pecherstraße
Province: Lower Austria

The craftsmanship of “Pecherei“ has been practised for many centuries as a way of extracting resin from pine trees. Here, the bole is injured on a superficial level as a way of activating the resinosis. The obtained resin, the so-called tar (“pech”), is processed in refineries and boiling-houses where it is turned into turpentine oil and colophony. These intermediate products used to form the basis of the industrial fabrication of paper, lacquer, paint, soap and many other products.


Forging in Ybbsitz

Applicant: Bgm. Josef Hofmarcher i.V. Marktgemeinde Ybbsitz
Province: Lower Austria

Metal forging has a very long history in Ybbsitz (Lower Austria). Certain forging dynasties, known as the “black dukes” (Schwarze Grafen) due to their skills and their outstanding wealth, have 200 year-old family traditions. The blacksmith shop of the Welser family has been within the family for 15 generations, for example.