Riesenrad Cafe

The Prater "Giant Wheel", constructed 1897. The cafe at its base was inspired by the James Bond film "The Living Daylights" (1987) but didn't exist in reality until 2002.

Riesenradplatz

Ferris Wheel Square The entrance to the Prater amusement park is enlivened by punch stands all winter. The (not so) high fog spreads the light.

Not quite Spring 2013-03-15 Today is the official opening of the Prater amusement park for the new season. A few die-hard fans of beer and ham hocks will be lining up at the beer garden (Schweizerhaus), but with temperatures below freezing, gale winds, and a bit of frozen precipitation from time to time (snow yesterday) - most rides are still in hibernation. Many thanks for the comments on the roe deer shot. I will return to the cemetery for more shots when there is more sun (and higher temperatures and less wind).

Boys will be boys 2011-09-11 Serious work - racing a Formula 1 car! As seen at the Prater amusement park in Vienna. Thanks for the comments on my previous Prater 'postcard'. I'm having fun working on the shots from this shoot.

The Prater - Frighteningly Fun 2011-09-29 I'm having fun with my Prater pictures. This has been 'enhanced' of course, to give a darker background. The figure is one of the traditional ones on top of the ghost house ride. I also turned previous shots into 'postcards' - which are in my Vienna gallery: http://www.jerrybarton.eu/Landscapes/Vienna/7986304_r9xtwT Thanks for your comments on the Turbo Booster shot - esp. Johnloguk's note about moving the crop. I did that in the 'postcard' version and it works well.

A Prater Postcard Turbo Booster, up to 100kmh

Toboggan - the longest wooden slide in Europe.

Postcard 2011-09-27 This 'swing' opened last year - double seats that rotate around a tower and rise to 100m above the pavement. One of the 'tamer' rides in the Prater amusement park. The picture was nice, so I made a postcard. Thanks for your comments on the early morning shot - much appreciated.

Upsy-Daisy 2011-09-26 The older amusements (ghost castle, fun house, bumper cars) aren't getting much custom in our Prater amusement park, but these stomach-turning ones sure are. Not my cup of tea at all. (Note the Lederhosen - an Oktoberfest-like event is taking place in the Prater this week.). I did rotate this shot slightly to obtain a bit more feeling of motion. I was wondering whether a square crop might be better.

Over and Under Another ride in the Prater. Up and down while twirling around. So fantastic that I thought a bit of 'comic-like' approach would work here.

Memory of a sunny day 2011-10-24 It is cold, grey, and drizzly here now - but it was sunny throughout the first half of October. And to be honest, I haven't taken any photos in the last week. My calendar is getting so busy that I'll have to start booking photo sessions. Enjoy your day.

What is this man doing? 2011-06-08 A simple question for SMuggers. Another shot from Vienna's old Bohemian Prater. And what does he see? From an earlier shot when I went up and around: http://www.jerrybarton.eu/gallery/7986304_3kMN8#881586146_u9g8X Many thanks for the views and comments yesterday - much appreciated.

Women Drivers! 2011-06-07 Sorry, couldn't resist the title. Enough of those dreary cemetery pictures (but many thanks for the comments). This is just a snapshot, but it has life and joy in it! It was taken in Vienna's little Prater amusement park, the Bohemian Prater, which has old style rides and amusements. Great fun for young families on a warm day. Enjoy your day.

Midway Lights in the Böhmischer Prater

And Rosi is closing fast on the lead Three of the traditional wooden horses on metal springs from the old horse carrousel in the Böhmischer Prater, in Vienna's 10th district

Three Clowns in the children's roundabout in the Böhmischer Prater, in Vienna's 10th district

The Ferris Wheel in the Böhmischer Prater, in Vienna's 10th district

das Lusthaus im Prater At the end of the 4.4km long Praterhauptallee (Prater Boulevard) is the "Lusthaus", it was originally an imperial "hunting cabin" first mentioned in 1560, and was at the end of the unregulated Danube river. The present construction is from 1783, designated as the Emperor's Celebration House, and the nobility celebrated events there. Today there is a cafe in it.

Im Prater bluhn wieder die Bäume The text above is the opening line of one of Vienna's inofficial songs, written by Robert Stolz. And indeed, in the Prater (in this view the Boulevard, reserved for feet, pedals, and hooves) the trees really do bloom - 2,500 horse chestnut trees along this stretch.

The Prater Hauptallee The main street through the Prater Woods is reserved for pedestrians, runners, cyclists. Here is a view with the parkway chestnut trees showing off their candles. There are 2,500 chestnut trees along the 4.4 km stretch.

Chestnut trees blossoming in the Prater, Vienna

Curves The old Riesenrad and a new roller coaster in the Prater Won first place in the DGRIN mini-challenge #90 "parks" 2010-02-25

The Riesenrad Built in 1897, burned during the 1944 bombing of the city, refurbished and in operation with half the number of cabins since that time.

Old and New Prater Attractions The Riesenrad ferris wheel was built in 1897. The roller coaster only a few years ago.

Hibernation Prater amusements during winter - the park's amusements are generally closed, except for the Riesenrad

Liliputbahn Minature railway in the Prater Amusement Park sponsored by a biscuit company and painted in their corporate color

Small Ferris Wheel Prater Amusement Park

Exciting Boat Ride next door to the fun house Prater, Vienna

Prater Ghost Ride The GeisterBahn zum Roten Adler has been around since about 1950.

Prater Ringelspiel With two other 'high flying' modern attractions in the background

Prater Toboggan The only remaining wooden slide worldwide Original from 1913, rebuilt 1947, closed 2000, opened again 2009

Prater Pony Caroussel

Pony Caroussel Since the 18th century, ponies have pulled the caroussel to the tunes played on the punch cards. Prater, Vienna

Out of Season Prater The amusement park in October

The Riesenrad Prater symbol since 1897

Prater sunset

Praterstern

The Riesenrad in 1968