Austria Market in Snow

A Stroll Through the Kartause Weihnachtsmarkt

The smoky scent of a wood fire drifts up and through the open-air walkways of the Kartause, mingling with puffs of mint, eucalyptus, and clove billowing up from a vendor’s essential oil diffuser. Both warm smells are sliced by the cold.

In the courtyard below, visitors gather around the fires which are contained in metal buckets. Almost everyone has a mug in hand. Gluhwein (hot, spiced wine) and gluhmost (hot cider) are the official drinks of a Weihnachtsmarkt.