Prater and Riesenrad
The Wiener Prater, a large public park featuring Riesenrad is located in Vienna’s 2nd district Leopoldstadt and is a popular place to spend an afternoon as well as one of the top tourists attractions in Vienna. It is located about 2 kilometers (1 mile) from the city center and can reached by foot in 20 minutes.
The area of today’s Prater is first documented in 1162 when it passed to a noble family de Prato. The name Prater is first mentioned in 1403 but it originally referred to a small island in the Danube River. In 1560, the land was purchased by Emperor Maximilian II to use it for hunting. The park was declared free for public by Emperor Joseph II in 1766 but the area continued to serve as a hunting ground until 1920.
The Wiener Riesenrad, a Ferris wheel that is located at the entrance of the Prater amusement park is one of the main attractions of the park and one of Vienna’s most popular tourist attractions. It was one of the earliest Ferries wheels in Europe erected to celebrate golden Jubilee of Emperor Franz Joseph I in 1897. The 64,75 meters (212,4 feet) high wheel had originally 30 gondolas. It was severely damaged during the World War II and only 15 gondolas were restored.