Wurstelprater, Amusement park in Leopoldstadt, Vienna, Austria
Wurstelprater is an amusement park in the Leopoldstadt district of Vienna with over 250 rides and attractions across a large open area. The offerings include carousels from different eras, roller coasters, ghost trains and shooting galleries along pathways between trees and historical pavilions.
Emperor Joseph II opened the Prater grounds to the Viennese population in 1766 after it had previously served as an imperial hunting reserve. Showmen soon began setting up stalls and rides that evolved over the centuries into a permanent amusement area.
The Giant Ferris Wheel cabins from the 19th century let visitors sit on wooden benches while taking in a circular view over Vienna. The grounds now serve as a meeting point for families and teenagers who wander between stalls and food stands where Viennese dialect can still be heard in everyday conversation.
Entry to the grounds is free while individual rides must be paid for separately. Most attractions open between March and October, though some remain operational during winter depending on weather and season.
The park's name comes from Hanswurst, a comic figure of Viennese folk theatre created by Josef Anton Stranitzky. His stages were pushed out of the city marketplaces in the late 18th century and moved into the Prater, opened to the public by Joseph II in 1766. The painted wooden figures near the rides, such as the woman in the flowered headdress, continue this showman tradition.
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