Saint Francis of Assisi is often credited with being the first to create a live nativity scene, in 1223. He did it to promote the worship of Christ. The small town of Hallstatt is a unique place of beauty and utility. It is on the shore of the Lake Hallstatt, ringed by the Dachstein mountains. Here are excellent examples of Nativity figurines. Shop windows show master craftsmen carvings of the wooden Christmas Nativity figurines and examples of their craft. There is an fantastic exhibition showing the variety of Christmas Nativities from around the World in the celler of the sports shop Janu..