The urban farmer

Back to the roots

When Anna Bracher talks about her daily life at the market, you immediately feel like visiting her, surrounded by fresh bread and local fruit and vegetables. When she describes her farm ‘s own cheese and meat products she is full of pride. She runs the farm together with her husband in the north of St. Pölten, not far from the Traisen Valley Cycle Trail and describes herself as an “urban farmer”.

She sells her products twice a week on the Cathedral Square. Every Thursday and Saturday there is a traditional weekly market on the square. Buyers are attracted by products including foods, textiles and other goods such as baskets, dishes, flowers, herbs and plants. Apart from the weekly market on the Cathedral Square, there is a farmers’ market in St. Pölten, which is supplied exclusively by independent producers. Every Friday they meet at the Pater-Paulus-Platz. And since the Middle Ages, there has been a daily market on Herrenplatz, which on Tuesdays expands to include the city market and bread, cheese and meat products.

Bracher values the quality of produce at the three markets in St. Pölten. They come from farmers in the surrounding area, which guarantees they are fresh, come from the local region and are naturally produced. A few selected commercial stalls on the market provide additional variety with their goods.

The crowds at the markets in St. Pölten and colourful and diverse. On Saturdays in particular, families like to go shopping here with their children. On weekdays, working people often come as early as 7:00am to do their shopping before work starts. A variety of events also take place at the market on the Cathedral Square. In autumn the harvest festival is celebrated here, while in winter, visitors can look forward to mulled wine and punch at the Christmas market. On certain days the schools of tourism in St. Pölten cook for visitors to the market. On other days, products that have won prizes for excellence at the Wieselburg Trade Fair are presented. There are also events that invite a guest community the opportunity to present their culinary and musical traditions and in return get to know St. Pölten better.

Like many others, Bracher believes that a morning on the market is the ideal combination of the practical and the pleasant. At the three charming markets in St. Pölten you can go shopping and enjoy the atmosphere with a glass of wine or beer.

Author: Sophie Jaeger