Vienna.CC Photo-Gallery - Views of Vienna

Prater

Another view from higher point of view to attractions
Looking to Ferrywheel

Looking to Ferrywheel - Riesenrad (constructed 1897). The Volksprater is a part of the Prater-area.

History

There are following versions of the beginning of Prater:

1. The name Prater comes from spanish PRADO, prado means plain.
2. The name comes from PRATA (latinum - the grass)
3. The name comes from spanish aristocrats named PRATER. Maybe this family a part of the green land near Danube was presented by Habsburger to this family for their working fo emperors. In the year 1329 a man named GHUNRAT DER PRATER claimed to a land that emperor Friedrich I. gave to his ancestors in the year 1102.

Prater was a hunting territory for emperors. For marriage of Leopold I. with Margaretha Theresia (from Spain) on Dec.5, 1666 Leopold organized a hunting spectaculum ('Lustjagd') where the aristocrats shot hundreds of animals who where caught in Tyrol (west-Austria). It was opened for general public in the year 1766 by Joseph II (married with Maria Thereasia). Not to forget the world-show (Weltausstellung) in 1873. (Source: Broschuere von Carl Eduard Reinhold, 1826, Historisches Museum)