Vienna Photos: Augarten Porcelain from Vienna

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Augarten Porzellan is the oldest porcelain brand of Austria and together with Meissen, Nymphenburg and Prussia the most exclusive brand in continental Europe. The name Augarten is derived from the Augarten park in the second district of Vienna, where a palace serves as the company′s headquarter and production facility. The company, however, is older than its current address: It dates back to the early 17th century and rose from the Baroque need for representation and fancy stuff to put on shelves in an attempt to impress visitors.

The original Viennese porcelain manufactory was built in the 9th district at today′s Porzellanstraße (Porcelain Street). If you are interested in purchasing Augarten Porzellan, there is a large shop on the Graben in Vienna, another one can be found on Alter Markt Square in Salzburg. Augarten Porcelain is shipped worldwide and the shop assistants are highly familiar with international customers: Augarten Porzellan is extremely popular in Japan and the shop at the Graben (where I took the picture above) even has Japanese speaking staff.

For guided tours through the company′s manufacturing facilities, check out Palais Augarten and the Augarten Pozellanmanufaktur. If you are interested in purchasing exclusive (or other) souvenirs in Austria, check my "Things to Buy in Austria" guide, which will point you to other souvenirish options and shopping streets in Vienna.