Riesenrad, Vienna

The Riesenrad is Vienna’s landmark Ferris wheel, carrying its tall steel circle at the entrance to the Prater amusement park. Built in 1897 for Emperor Franz Joseph’s jubilee, it quickly became a symbol of both Vienna and this district. Its height is 64.75 metres, and the structure takes its passengers through the air at a deliberately gentle pace.

A complete circuit can take 255 seconds at its maximum speed, although boarding may make the actual ride longer. The wheel began with 30 gondolas, but wartime fire and bombing left it severely damaged. During reconstruction, only 15 gondolas returned to service, and that reduced arrangement became part of the wheel’s identity.

There is an especially dramatic twist in its early history: a demolition permit was issued in 1916, yet the wheel survived because the money needed to take it down was unavailable. From 1920 until 1985, it held the distinction of being the tallest surviving Ferris wheel in the world. The Riesenrad has also entered film culture, appearing in The Third Man and in a James Bond film. Its great appeal is the contrast between graceful motion and an unmistakably industrial steel frame.