Vienna's sausage stands have been officially recognized as an intangible cultural heritage site by UNESCO, gazeta.ru reports, citing the Associated Press (AP).
Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig emphasized the symbolic significance of this event. According to him, the new status is not only a tribute to the culinary tradition, but also a recognition of the special social role of sausage stands in city life.
The publication notes that these small street establishments have long been more than just a place for a quick snack. They are social spaces that unite people of different classes and walks of life.
The history of Viennese sausage stands goes back to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Before World War I, former soldiers opened mobile culinary shops as a way to earn a living. The oldest stationary kiosk, Würstelstand Leo, has been operating since 1928, and the mass distribution of kiosks began after receiving official permission in 1969.
