Prater

The Wiener Prater is a large public park in Vienna's 2nd district Leopoldstadt. The name Prater derives from one or the other or possibly both Latin words pratum meaning meadow and Praetor meaning Magistrate/Lawyer, possibly via Spanish prado. The term Prater is often used to mean the Wurstelprater amusement park which stands in one corner of the Prater and includes the Riesenrad. In early Rome Praetors were municipal officers who went before or ... more

The Wiener Prater is a large public park in Vienna's 2nd district Leopoldstadt. The name Prater derives from one or the other or possibly both Latin words pratum meaning meadow and Praetor meaning Magistrate/Lawyer, possibly via Spanish prado. The term Prater is often used to mean the Wurstelprater amusement park which stands in one corner of the Prater and includes the Riesenrad. In early Rome Praetors were municipal officers who went before or took precedence of the people. In other words he was a mix of both lawyer and judge, routinely settling disputes in the streets by listening to and then arguing both sides of a dispute to the opposite side then trying to mediate a resolution and ultimately making a decision if the parties would not decide the issue between themselves. The Consuls of Rome were first called praetors. Later Praetors became more akin to a Clerk of Law and Court, preparing documents for cases to be presented to Judges. The area that makes up the modern Prater was... less