English
In addition to its gardens and wooded recreation areas (such as theBelvederePalace), the capital ofAustriahas two large parks very different from each other. The first comprises the grounds ofSchönbrunnPalacetogether with its beautiful gardens and the second is known as the Wiener Prater.
In contrast to the monumental fountains, large triumphal arches, the Zoo, or the Palm House (the photogenic greenhouse built of glass) of the former, the latter offers several sporting options for visitors and foreigners. While the first, Schönbrunn, is designed with linear, manicured French-style gardens (with its succession of box hedges, lakes, waterfalls, straight trails and vegetable mazes), the Prater is more like a natural forest. That is, while Schönbrunn seems made to be admired and looked, the Prater Park of Vienna offers excellent entertainment.
Let us explain why. What was once a former imperial hunting ground open to the public “commoner” (the noble enjoyed it long before) in the late nineteenth century is, at present, organized for leisure and family sport. We’ll start by giving you the website where you can find out more about the varied options for activities, which are of course constantly changing. http://www.prater.at/.
The Vienna Prater is divided into upper and lower halves by an avenue more than 5 miles long, which is flanked by beautiful, hundred-year-old chestnut trees. A walk along this route (bicycles and skates are allowed but motor vehicles are not) will delight the most romantic, especially in autumn when the trees change colors. At one end of the avenue stands the former hunting lodge, the Lusthaus, which has been converted into a stylish cafe restaurant. The other end is dominated by its famous and recognized leisure park, whose Ferris wheel was featured in a scene from the movie The Third Man with Orson Wells as one the cast. The Volksprater, as it is known, will delight the little ones as will the Liliputbahn, a red-colored electric train that runs near the park.
For sports fans the Prater is a must-see, especially those who enjoy equestrian and horse riding, because there’s a racecourse where both horse and carriage races are held. A golf course, a football stadium, an indoor pool, and tennis courts round out the sports offerings. As if this were not enough, next to the park you can find the exhibition space, the Messegelände, which organizes events of all kinds, and the Planetarium with various activities aiming to increase your general knowledge of the stars and planets. To find out more, visit the website listed above.
Although the Prater is located in the suburbs, the public transportation is very good and you won´t have problems getting there from apartments in Vienna It´s connected by metro train and bus to the city center.
