The Joyrides At The Prater

The big area around the famous Ferris wheel includes a beautiful, quiet park called "Praterau," big exhibition halls, and a tennis club. Lucky me, my Viennese Uncle Gerhard is a member there. On my last visit we played a match at the Prater tennis courts. He even let me win ;o)
But we'll concentrate on the amusement park, which I like to call the Austrian state fair. It's open from March to October.

Where does the name Prater come from?

Take your pick:
1. From the Spanish word "prado" (=flat, like in the plains)
2. From the Latin word "prata" (=meadow)
3. Named after Señor Prater, a Spanish nobleman whose family was awarded the land for doing good service for the Habsburgers in the 12th century

The Prater amusement park in Vienna, Austria, was opened to the general public in 1766 by Emperor Joseph II. The giant Ferris wheel was constructed in 1897.

Why do I like the Prater better than Disneyworld? The food is better - Wiener Schnitzel, Stelze (pig's trotter): I ate at the restaurant Schweizerhaus. The beer is better and stronger The giant Ferris wheel is unique Rich and old tradition The fun combination of traditional carousels and museums with high tech rides No daily Prater fireworks - saving the taxpayers lots of money!

In World War II the Prater burned down. But it was restored piece by piece and is again an important element of the cultural entertainment in Vienna.

Orson Welles as Harry Lime >>

Prater Highlights:
-- 50 years ago the movie "The Third Man" included a scene on top of the Ferris wheel -- there are over 130 entertaining attractions in various categories, many of them you won't find at Disneyworld -- there are over 40 restaurants and snack bars with an incredible variety of high quality food, pastry, and more...

Visit the Prater. Auf Wiedersehn in Wien!