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The Wallner House dates back to the High Middle Ages. Originally owned by the Mondsee Monastery, the house, along with the long-established rights of wax chandler, gingerbread maker, and mead brewer, was sold around the year 1520 to the citizen and gingerbread maker Martin Stadlmann. These three trades, which always involved the use of honeycomb, were of special significance for a prominent pilgrimage site like St. Wolfgang. Pilgrims from afar offered candles at the altar of Saint Wolfgang, bought gingerbread as gifts for their loved ones at home, and often enjoyed a glass of mead.In 1755, it was officially recorded that Johann Paul Wallner acquired the house and had the right to operate all three trades associated with it. He came from a long-established, highly esteemed family in St. Wolfgang, which, according to recent research, can even boast of being ancestors of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's mother. The business has existed since 1520, and the Wallner name has been associated with it since 1755, now in its 17th generation in St. Wolfgang and at this house.
About a hundred years ago, with the advent of electric lighting, the once-important wax chandelery lost much of its business. However, locals as well as pilgrims and many visitors still buy their candles at Wallner. These range from candles for church occasions such as baptisms and funerals, to the “Original St. Wolfgang Pilgrimage Candle” as a token of gratitude for a successful pilgrimage or for deliverance from any kind of misfortune, as well as variously designed wax sticks—simply for the joy of beautiful things.To this day, many waxworks are decorated with casts of intricately carved wooden molds, originally pressed into the soft dough of gingerbread for decoration. The old molds, some of which date back to the time of Michael Pacher, the creator of the famous winged altar of St. Wolfgang, attest to the house's tradition. Many folklore museums envy Wallner for its venerable collection of molds, which is still in use.
As vibrant as ever, the gingerbread making at House Wallner continues, with gingerbread crafted in traditional ways, using old recipes and various forms. The range includes classic gingerbread, gingerbread hearts, the popular St. Wolfgang Pilgrim Bread, and gingerbread with marzipan and jam. The business has undergone many modern adjustments and now employs a considerable number of staff who, using traditional and meticulous handcraft, produce gingerbread of consistently high quality.Today, Wallner gingerbread is no longer just sold over the counter at the pastry shop. Countless orders via the internet, especially during the pre-Christmas season, result in shipments to all corners of the world, making the delicious Wallner gingerbread from St. Wolfgang a symbol of excellent Austrian baking craftsmanship.
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The culinary history at House Wallner dates back over a hundred years. In 1908, the pastry shop was established, followed in the 1920s by what was then known as a “coffee tavern.” Since then, Café Wallner has become a well-known name in St. Wolfgang and its surroundings, and stands proudly alongside other great names in Austrian coffeehouse culture.Celebrities such as Alfred Hitchcock, Karim Aga Khan, the poet Alexander Lernet-Holenia, the writer Hilde Spiel, stage and film star Emil Jannings, and acclaimed musicians have all frequented “Wallner.” This is the place in St. Wolfgang where locals gather, where one can meet prominent visitors from afar and guests from all over the world, and where everyone can enjoy the delights from the pastry shop and the unique atmosphere of a highly sociable, family-run establishment.
