Shopping
The jewellery, glass figurines, drinking glasses and carafes that Innsbruck glassblower Susi Hager makes in her workshop in the courtyard of Andreas-Hofer-Straße 14 shine in all colours. As each piece is unique, I always discover something new there: shimmering rings and colourful necklaces, miniature globes, Christmas tree and Easter decorations. Last but not least, the glass zoo of small animals in the workshop/exhibition room is constantly growing. With a bit of luck, you can see how such pieces are created when Susi Hager works on her tool, the burner.
Regina Knoflach produces beautiful scarves and stoles as well as textiles for the bathroom, kitchen and living room in the old hand weaving mill at Bilgeristraße 10 in Igls. Natural materials such as linen and cotton, wool and silk are used on the loom to create crockery, hand and bath towels with colourful stripes, in herringbone and diamond patterns. Table linen dresses up the dining room and cushions are real eye-catchers in living rooms and bedrooms. The fabrics, woven in many colour variations, are not only beautiful to look at but also particularly pleasant to the touch.
When the Tiroler Heimatwerk co-operative was founded in 1934, home-based knitting was a way for women from Paznaun to supplement their household budgets. Tyrol has long been an economically prosperous region, but today's Paznaun women have inherited knitting from their mothers and grandmothers. They use wool to make everything that is warm, soft and beautiful to look at: cardigans, hats, gloves, scarves and socks, often with traditional patterns. Their products are exclusively available at the Tiroler Heimatwerk in Meraner Straße 2 in Innsbruck. I also like to pop in there when I'm looking for (traditional) fabrics, handmade hair accessories, leather goods with quill embroidery and other handicraft products from Tyrol.
The leather goods that Gregor Mair, alias grga, designs in his manufactory at Haller Straße 41 in Innsbruck are simple, elegant and functional. Here you can discover souvenirs as well as special gifts. Whether a small purse, large shopper, changing clutch, barbecue apron, tablet sleeve or tobacco bag, everything is carefully made by hand. The advantages of the material and design are particularly evident in daily use. Because instead of breaking, the bags and sleeves gain character.
Andrea Baumann's porcelain items, especially the bowls available in all sizes, have an unmistakable style in their simplicity. They are delicate, in white, black or soft rosé and earthy colours, often finished with gold. And they look just as good in chic designer kitchens as they do at a summer table in the garden or on a simple wooden table. Perhaps this is the reason why they have a firm place in concept stores and art galleries from the resort of Innsbruck to Dubai and Sydney.
Top restaurants and the best wineries worldwide appreciate these glasses from Tyrol. They are produced in Kufstein and the shopnext to the factory offers the opportunity to purchase 2nd and 3rd choice glasses at surprisingly favourable prices. Highly recommended: a tasting of wines from different glasses. Afterwards you know: Never again will you want to drink good wine without a Riedel glass. I prefer the mouth-blown glasses to the machine-made ones. You can test the difference on the spot and I was convinced. And these marvellous glasses are a joy!
You can usually find really good Tyrolean bacon at farmers' markets and in a village butcher's shop. The secret, apart from good quality meat, is to give it time to smoke. My favourite butchers: the Astl family's farm shopon Weerberg, the Krössbacher family butcher's shop in Fulpmes or the Hangl butcher's shop in Innsbruck. Vacuum packaging for odour-free transport is often available on request.
Nothing beats a delicious honey spread straight from the beekeeper. If you can't find a beekeeper in your holiday destination (the harvest is usually sold from the farm in autumn), the Imkergenossenschafr in Meranerstraße in Innsbruck is a highly recommended alternative. Incidentally, it's a very nice shop and you won't forget the wonderful smell of beeswax in a hurry.
These traditional slippers made of loden and felt fabric are among the most comfortable footwear for the home in some parts of the country. Handmade, warm and very original! The few sources of supply are often treated like a little secret. In the Zillertal, for example, Günter Hartl makes them, in Reith near Alpbach Anneliese Naschberger (Kirchfeld 4, 6235 Reith). You need a bit of fashionable courage to wear them at first, but unconventional combinations reveal the trendsetter. Cold feet" in particular will appreciate this gift.
This sulphurous oil is distilled from shale rock at Lake Achensee. It looks like viscous engine oil and doesn't exactly have an enchanting odour. BUT: the effect on tense and aching joints is fantastic. Simply put it in the bath water and leave it in the bath for 15 to 20 minutes and everything will be fine. Doesn't stain the bath either.
A good schnapps belongs in every Tyrolean home - it is a welcome drink and a digestive aid after a fine meal. The quality of schnapps has improved enormously in recent years and many distillers in the region already belong to the European distillery elite. Here are my favourite distillers (best bought from the farm or in some cases from specialist shops): Christoph Kössler from Stanz (his house alone is worth a diversion), Siegfried Kistl from Wildschönau (very good price/performance ratio) and the Rochelt distillery from Fritzens (in addition to good schnapps, they also have the most beautiful bottles).
This fine chocolate from Landeck in Tyrol is now known and loved far beyond the borders. The finest cocoa paste and sophisticated fillings such as Tyrolean walnuts or the Stanzer-Zwetchke brandy are a treat. My favourite variety: with Ötztal cranberries.
Even though Swarovski jewellery is available internationally, it is a special experience to choose from one of the world's largest shops right next to the production facility at Swarovski Kristallwelten in Wattens. By the way: the exhibition in the Swarovski Crystal Worlds is highly recommended.
Even though soap has been displaced by shower gels and sometimes has to serve as an "emergency gift" - Walde's soaps make you a soap fan again. Interesting ingredients such as mountain mint, glacier milk or forget-me-not arouse curiosity and are based on 100% natural ingredients. Very nice gift packaging.
This hat has become a classic for all Tyrol fans over the last 10 years. Exported a thousand times over, it can be found among fans not only in Tyrol, but also in Munich, Hamburg and other metropolises. And although hats are not necessarily always very stylish - in my opinion, this hat looks good on almost everyone.
