DESCRIPTION: Located in the giant wooded park and fairground known as the Prater, Vienna’s Giant Ferris Wheel is one of Austria’s best-known and best-loved landmarks. The Ferris Wheel was completed in 1897 at a time when other such ferris wheels stood in cities like London, Paris and Blackpool, but it is the only one of its era still surviving. Constructed to celebrate the 50th jubilee of Emperor Franz Joseph I, the wheel has famously featured in many films including The Third Man, The Living Daylights and Before Sunrise. Several unusual events have taken place on the wheel, most notably the suicide of local resident Marie Kindl, who hanged herself from the window of a car in 1898 to draw attention to the economical plight of her family. In 1914, circus director Madame Solange d'Atalide was filmed riding around the wheel while sitting astride a horse on the roof of one of the cars. After dark, the wheel lights up acts as a giant clock for the city by flashing the correct number of times on the hour.
CONTACT ADDRESSES: Riesenrad, Prater 90, 1020, Vienna, Austria
Tel: (01) 729 5430. Fax: (01) 7295 43020. E-mail:
wr.riesenrad@aon.at
Website: www.wienerriesenrad.com
TRANSPORTATION: Air: Vienna International Airport. Rail: Train: S-Bahn to Wien Nord (Praterstern) from Wien Mitte. Underground: Praterstern. Tram: 21. Road: Bus: Wien Prater. Car: Signs for Vienna city centre, then take Praterstrasse.
OPENING TIMES: Daily 1000-2200 (1 Mar-30 Apr); daily 0900-2400 (1 May-30 Sep); daily 1000-2200 (1 Oct-3 Nov); daily 1000-1800 (4 Nov-31 Dec). Closed 24 Dec.
ADMISSION FEES: EUR7.50/öS103 (adult), EUR3/öS41 (child 3-17), free (child under 3). Concessions and family pass available.
GIANT FERRIS WHEEL
