Wiener Prater

The Vienna Prater is a vast public area spanning approximately 6 km² located in the 2nd district of Vienna, Leopoldstadt. The area is primarily characterized by floodplain landscapes that were originally formed by the Danube.When individuals refer to the “Prater” located outside of Vienna, they commonly are specifically referring to the renowned amusement park situated within the Prater, known as the Wurstelprater.This is situated at the northwestern extremity of the region between the Danube and the Danube Canal, constituting a minor portion of the overall Prater vicinity.

Currently, the Prater serves as a well-liked destination for excursions and recreational activities.The Prater boasts an extensive array of sports facilities, including but not limited to football, baseball, land hockey, tennis, golf, disc golf at the Prater Parcours, running, equestrian sports, swimming, bowling, and skateboarding. During winter, visitors can enjoy cross-country skiing, tobogganing, and ice skating.

The greenery within the Prater has undergone significant reduction in several areas over time, as evidenced by the Pratercottage. This trend of reduction continues to persist even in present times.The six-lane urban highway A23, commonly referred to as the south-east tangent, has been elevated and intersecting the main avenue and the Heustadelwasser at a considerable height since 1970, located approximately 3.1 km away from the Praterstern.The motorway that is currently experiencing the highest traffic volume in Austria traverses a previously tranquil section of the verdant Prater.

The Hauptallee, which is adorned with horse chestnut trees, serves as the primary thoroughfare and is exclusively reserved for non-motorized traffic. It is recognized by sports enthusiasts worldwide due to its association with the annual Vienna Marathon. The Wiener Prater features the Liliputbahn, a narrow gauge railway. The Wiener Prater is home to an atypical object known as the Republik Kugelmugel (Republic of Kugelmugel), which is a micronation in the shape of a sphere. The Wiener Prater is home to a planetarium and the Prater Museum.

Traffic

The central area of the Prater and the second quarter are designated as car-free zones.The Meiereistraße-Stadionallee and the streets located on the outskirts are designated for private motorized transportation.

The Wurstelprater, located in the northwestern region of the Prater, is conveniently accessible by foot from the Praterstern station, which is served by the U1 and U2 subway lines, all S-Bahn trunk lines, the 5 and O tram lines, and the 5B and 80A bus lines.

Access to the northern section of the Prater can be obtained via the U2 underground line, specifically through the Messe-Prater, Krieau, and Stadion stations, as well as the 11A and 82A bus routes.As of spring 2013, the central portion of the Prater is accessible via the S80 S-Bahn line (Praterkai station) and line 77A. The Stadionallee intersects with the Hauptallee and provides service to the northeast perimeter of the Prater, ultimately concluding at the Lusthaus located at the end of the Hauptallee.The lines 79B and 80B are directed towards the southern region of the Prater.Line 80A traverses Schüttelstrasse to reach the north and central regions’ southwestern boundary.

Tram line 1, originating from the 1st and 3rd districts in the west, traverses Rotundenbrücke and Rotundenallee before reaching Hauptallee.The rotunda was previously situated on Kaiserallee, which is currently the site of the University of Economics and Business. The 4A bus route originates from the Karlsplatz underground station and traverses the 3rd district via the Rotunden Bridge, ultimately culminating at its final destination.

The Liliputbahn railway system operates within the Prater area, connecting the Wurstelprater near the Praterstern to the Schweizerhaus-Luftburg and Rotunde stops, and ultimately to the Stadion station.The Prater train for tourists operates within the Wurstelprater amusement park.

Location and topography

The Vienna Prater is situated in the southeastern section of the river island, which was created by the Danube and the Danube Canal following the completion of the Danube regulation project in 1875.There is no officially designated boundary for the Prater area.Over time, the Prater area has undergone significant reduction due to construction. Presently, the Stuwer district, formerly known as Schwimmschulmais and Feuerwerksmais, is no longer considered part of the Prater. Similarly, the Freudenau port located in the southeastern part of the island, also known as the winter port, is not considered part of the Prater.

The boundaries of the Prater are commonly understood to be delineated by the following parameters: commencing at the Praterstern in the north, extending along the Ausstellungsstraße; in the northeast, along the Vorgartenstraße – Wehlistraße – Hafenzufahrtsstraße; to the southeast, along the Seitenhafenstraße; in the south and southwest, along the Danube Canal and Schüttelstrasse; and in the west, from Stoffellagasse towards Praterstern.

Typical of a floodplain, the Prater exhibits a notably level terrain, with its maximum elevation of seven meters at Constantine Hill being a man-made feature.

The Prater area can be divided into three different landscape types:

The north-western part from the Praterstern to Meiereistraße is extensive parkland. The only body of water is the artificially created, small duck pond on Constantine Hill.
The middle part from Meiereistraße to the Lusthaus is also a dry area, but still has some of the vegetation of an alluvial forest. The area is traversed by the Danube old arms Oberes Heustadelwasser and Unteres Heustadelwasser as well as the small Rosenlacke .
The south-eastern part from the Lusthaus to Seitenhafenstraße still represents a relatively natural, damp floodplain landscape. The elongated Lusthauswasser and Mauthnerwasser ponds are remnants of the original Danube Canal, which flowed directly past the Lusthaus until it was regulated in 1832. North of it is the Krebsenwasser , an arm of the Danube.

On January 27, 1978, the “Green” Prater was designated as a protected landscape.The Mauthnerwasser and the Krebsenwasser, along with certain trees and clusters of trees located in the Prater, have been designated as natural monuments and are afforded legal protection.

History

The territory currently comprising the Prater was initially documented in 1162, when Emperor Friedrich I bestowed the land upon a noble lineage known as de Prato. The term “Prater” was initially coined in 1403 to denote a petite island situated in the Danube river’s northern region of Freudenau. However, over time, the term’s usage was broadened to encompass the surrounding regions as well. The ownership of the land underwent several changes until it was acquired by Emperor Maximilian II in 1560 with the intention of utilizing it as a hunting ground. In order to address the issue of poaching, Emperor Rudolf II implemented a prohibition on entry to the Prater. Emperor Joseph II proclaimed on April 7, 1766 that the Prater was open to public recreation and authorized the establishment of coffee houses and cafes, which eventually gave rise to the Wurstelprater. During this period, hunting activities persisted in the Prater and were eventually terminated in 1920.

During the year 1873, a World Exhibition took place in the Prater region, where a significant portion of land was allocated for the event. The exhibition was focused on the Rotunda, which unfortunately suffered from a fire incident in 1937. The current site is currently utilized as the Messegelände, which serves as an exhibition center.

In 1895, Gabor Steiner established an attraction named “Venice in Vienna” on the premises of the contemporary Kaiserwiese. The location encompasses an artificially constructed body of water resembling the canals of Venice, Italy.

Significant renovations were initiated in 2004 to enhance the Wurstelprater. On 11 May 2008, a new underground railway line was completed and became operational, featuring three stops along the Prater. Further details can be found in the Vienna U-Bahn.The Wien Praterstern railway station has been operational for an extended period and is located in close proximity to an entrance of the park, with a distance of only a few dozen meters.

The park’s total area has been diminished due to the construction of the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, which serves as Austria’s national stadium, the Südosttangente, which is the country’s busiest motorway, and the Krieau Race Track. The Vienna University of Economics and Business inaugurated its new campus adjacent to the Prater in 2013.

In 2019, Eliud Kipchoge successfully completed the marathon distance of 26.2 miles by running laps on a designated stretch of road in the park during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge. The recorded time of 1:59:40 marked the inaugural instance of an individual completing the marathon distance in less than two hours.

Vienna, Austria