Wiener Prater - An Imperial Amusement Park
Of course, there’s more to see than the famous Vienna Ferris Wheel and hounted houses. For those who need some diversion from autoscooter and cotton candy, we totally recommend “Schweizer Haus”. Though it translates as “Swiss House”, it’s one of the most popular traditional Viennese inns. The knuckles of pork are legendery and best consumed together with the authentic “Budweiser” beer. Not the one you know from the US, but the original brew from the Czech Republic, one part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
In 1873 the grand World Expo took place and on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the regency of Emporer Franz Joseph in 1889. Showmen were allowed to open their tents and shacks. Many of them stayed there and therefore consisted the cadre for thoday’s amusement park, the Wurstelprater with its historic carousels, but also modern attractions and many, many restaurants. The so-called “Green Prater” with its long alleys, trees, meadows still is very popular with the Viennese seeking recreatian and sporting facilities.
The Prater in Vienna’s second district started life as an imperial hunting ground in the Donauaen wetlands. The name Prater stems from pratum – the Latin word for meadow or hay-field (prado in Spanish, and prato in Italian). The meadows and the tree-lined boulevards give the park, referred to locally as the Green Prater, its distinctive character. The Prater Hauptallee was laid out as a horse-chestnut lined promenade in the sixteenth century.
The system of pathways was expanded under Emperor Joseph II who also added the Praterstern (Prater star) intersection and the Lusthaus pavilion as a focal point. After Emperor Joseph II opened the park to the public in 1766 the Prater soon became one of the city’s best-loved recreation areas.
But a great deal of other attractions and amusements can be found at Prater … you should take these ambigous phrase litteraly. The big green meadows and the main alley are very popular among runners, inline skaters and other sportsmen and -women - you may have a picknick after doing something for your shape. Also the Ernst-Happel-Statium - location of the European Soccer Championships final can be found there. But not only soccer fans get excited when approaching the Prater, but also huge numers of music fans pilgrimage to the many music concerts of famous stars.
Prater, 1020 Wien, www.prateraktiv.at
Wien Museum Karlsplatz, 1040 Wien, www.wienmuseum.at
Jüdisches Museum Wien, Palais Eskeles, Dorotheergasse 11, 1010 Wien, www.jmw.at
Circus- & Clownmuseum Wien, Ilgplatz 7, 1020 Wien, www.circus-clownmuseum.at
Campus WU, Welthandelsplatz 1, 1020 Wien, www.wu.ac.at
