Colorful & quaint, the old-world town of Rattenberg, nestled in the Tyrol region of the Alps, is Austria’s smallest town with just 400 residents. Famous for its hand blown glass & crystal shops – you can (and most likely will) spend hours floating in & out of Battenberg’s many lovely shops, ogling at all the exquisite christmas balls & ornaments, crystal & glassware (many of which can be etched & personalized) Swarovski pieces, art glass, candles, antiques, authentic Austrian baubles & clothing – including the well-known & traditional dirndl – and everything else in between – Rattenberg is one of my all time favorite towns to visit.
My favorite & largest shop in Rattenberg, is Kisslinger Kristall. If your anything like me, this shop will draw you in with its wide variety of incredible glass & crystal. Be sure to make your way to the back of the shop where you can watch the glass blowers create the most beautiful, ornate glass creations right in front of your eyes. Lucky to have traveled to Austria just before the holidays, and Christmas ornaments are kind of a “thing” in our family, I took my time, thoughtfully picking out some really lovely handblown balls & ornaments + had a couple etched for sweet & personal christmas gifts!
P.S. Es ist kein problem (no problem) if you buy too much (as we did). They are happy to ship it – tax free – back to the states for you! 😉
Noteworthy fact, because of it unique location – literally in the shadows of nearby mountain – Rattenberg gets little to no sun during the winter months of the year making for a noticeable drop in temp compared to surrounding towns. The day we visited was absolutely freezing and a good 10 degrees colder from the town of Wattens, where my Opa lives. So if you happen to travel here during winter, be sure to layer up & dress extra warm….
Speaking of warmth, I couldn’t write about this charming town without sharing one of the best parts, and possibly my favorite konditorei in all of Austria — Café-Konditorei Hacker. The perfect place to warm your bones over eine tasse kaffee und etwas süße, like an authentic Austrian ApfelStrudel or one of their amazing pastries & chocolates. Die Mozart-Melange, is pretty amazing and you can take cup home with you as a souvenir – but you can’t go wrong with a simple cup of coffee, or anything they offer here. If your hungry for more than just a coffee + sweet treat, they also have a restaurant serving delicious Austrian cuisine.
Hoping you enjoy my photos from this enchanting, Austrian town. As always, much love & thanks for stopping in! xx
