The Riesenrad

The Riesenrad was the first Prater attraction to gain international fame. Conceived by an English engineer at the time of Franz Josef's Diamond Jubilee in 1895, construction began in 1896 and ended in 1897 when it was opened in July of that year. Although not the first ferris wheel ever to be built, it was the world's largest and apparently still is. Unlike the ferris wheels one usually sees in the average amusement park or carnival (traveling fun fair), the Riesenrad has cabins, nearly as large as a tram, that revolve very, very slowly affording passengers superb views and protection from the elements. It takes 10 minutes for the wheel to make one revolution, so even if you don't normally trust such rides, this is the one you can't say no to!