Who among us has not stood still as a child in front of a bright, sparkling carousel, choosing the most beautiful horse? This simple yet captivating attraction has accompanied humanity for several centuries. Over time, carousels have become knightly tournaments, royal pastimes, and finally, a beloved national entertainment. Today, there are dozens of unique carousels scattered around the world — each with its own history, character, and magic. Some remember the times of kings, others have become symbols of entire cities, and still others are true masterpieces of engineering.
Before embarking on a journey through the most famous carousels in the world, it is worth recalling where it all began. The word "carousel" comes from the Italian "garosello" and Spanish "carosella," which meant "little war." In the Middle Ages, this term referred to knightly horseback tournaments where knights demonstrated their agility and skill. The most brilliant carousels were held under Louis XIII and XIV in Paris in front of the Tuileries — that very square still bears the name Place du Carrousel. In 1662, Louis XIV, the future Sun King, organized a grand horseback performance that forever linked his name with this word.
Gradually, tournaments gave way to peaceful entertainments. Around 300 years ago, in France, a device was invented that allowed training in javelin throwing: wooden horses and chariots were suspended on chains to a rotating central column. In 1861, the Englishman Thomas Bradshaw presented the first steam-powered carousel attraction. From this moment on, the era of carousels as we know them today began.
If you want to see the oldest surviving carousel, your journey leads to the German city of Hanau. Here, in the resort park Hanau-Wilhelmsbad, a carousel has been operating since 1780, recognized as the oldest continually operating carousel in the world. It was built by order of the Hereditary Prince William IX of Hesse-Kassel, and the architect in charge of the construction was Franz Ludwig von Kankrin.
Initially, the carousel was powered by human force, and after the restoration in 1882, by a horse and a blind mule that walked around the platform. Kankrin, being a mining engineer, created a complex mechanism with an artificial hill under the carousel and massive spokes radiating from the center. Interestingly, the attraction originally had two chariots and two riding horses, which doubled after the reconstruction. The carousel survived World War II, suffering damage from a bomb explosion, but was restored. Today, it delights visitors on certain days.
Guinness World Records lists the oldest operating carousel in the world differently. It is the Vermolen Boden-Karussel in the Efteling amusement park in Kaatsheuvel, the Netherlands, built in 1865. Initially, it traveled throughout Northern Europe and was powered by horses in the center. Later, it was electrified, but the spirit of the past remained. The original decorations were created by Andreas Giesse, the horses were carved by Joseph Hubner, and the gondola by Frederic Heyn.
In the same Efteling there is another legendary carousel — Stoomcarrousel ("Steam Carousel"), built in 1895. It traveled to fairs for a long time until 1956, when it ended up in the park. Now it operates on electricity, but its main treasure is the original Gavioli organ, which still plays old music, creating an unforgettable atmosphere.
In America, carousels found a second home. Since the end of the 19th century, when the first steam-powered carousels appeared on Coney Island, this country has become a true center of carousel art. The golden age of carousels was from 1880 to 1930, when European masters, mainly German and Italian carvers, created thousands of handcrafted wooden masterpieces.
One of the oldest carousels in the United States is the Flying Horses Carousel on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, built in 1876. It is considered the oldest carousel with "flying" horses in the country and is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. It used to travel with a traveling carnival but has now become a permanent attraction.
The Balboa Park Carousel in San Diego, built in 1910, is a true outdoor museum. It is notable for allowing riders to catch a brass ring to get a free ticket for the next round. It features not only horses but also a whole menagerie of handcrafted figures, almost all of which are original. This carousel has undergone several moves: from New York to Los Angeles, then to Coronado, and finally to Balboa Park.
One of the most photogenic carousels in the world is Jane's Carousel in Brooklyn. It was built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1922 and initially operated in Idora Park in Youngstown, Ohio. In 2011, it was placed in a glass cube designed by the famous architect Jean Nouvel. Located right by the water, between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, this carousel with 48 carved horses offers a breathtaking view of the New York skyline. It survived Hurricane Sandy, when water flooded the pavilion, but remained standing — and this became one of the strongest symbols of the city's resilience.
France is famous not only for its ancient but also for its most creative carousels. In Nantes, as part of the grand art project "Machines of the Island," there is the Carrousel des Mondes Marins — "Carousel of the Sea Worlds." This is not just an attraction, but a 25-meter sculpture dedicated to the sea, with three levels where you can ride on giant fish, sea horses, squids, and other fantastical creatures. Each passenger can control part of the mechanism — with a flap of wings, a nod of the head, or the release of steam. This is a true steampunk world, inspired by Jules Verne.
Here, in Nantes, there is also Le Manège d’Andrea — a carousel created in 1999 from recycled motorcycles, metal, wood, and leather. Its animals and fantastic machines are true kinetic art pieces that have traveled throughout Europe.
Paris cannot be imagined without its carousels. The most famous one is located at the base of the Eiffel Tower — although, strictly speaking, there are two: one right next to the tower, the other on the opposite bank of the Seine, at Trocadéro, from where the best view opens. And on Montmartre stands a magnificent two-story carousel in Venetian style, with rich painting and gold leaf. These carousels have become an integral part of the Parisian landscape, appearing in countless films and photographs.
In the Letná Park in Prague there is one of the oldest carousels in the world, built in 1892. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the horses are stuffed with straw and covered with natural horse leather — this is a rare occurrence. The central column is decorated with figures of three knights in armor made of paper mache, and the height of the structure with a pyramid roof and lantern reaches 7.7 meters. The best-preserved of the nineteen horses is the mare named Flora. The carousel was out of service for a long time, but now the National Technical Museum is raising funds for its restoration.
It is impossible to bypass the carousels that have become symbols of Disney parks. The story began when Walt Disney took his little daughters to the carousel in Griffith Park in Los Angeles — this inspired him to create Disneyland. The first Disney carousel, King Arthur Carrousel, opened with the park on July 17, 1955.
This carousel was built by Dentzel in 1922 and initially operated in Sunnyside Beach Park in Toronto. Walt Disney bought it and moved it to Anaheim. He wanted all the horses on it to be "galloping" — no standing ones, so that everyone could feel like a knight of the Round Table. Today, there are 68 carved white horses and one chariot.
Its "sister" is Prince Charming Regal Carrousel in Walt Disney World in Florida, built in 1918. Both carousels are true historical artifacts that attract millions of visitors every year.
In Montreal, until recently, there was a carousel from 1885 that was recognized as one of the oldest in the world. In 2023, it was closed due to mechanical wear and tear, but now it will become a historical monument. And in Budapest, a century-old wooden carousel in the City Park is still operating.
There are about 215 historical wooden carousels scattered throughout the United States. Many of them are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Carousels are not just attractions. They are living monuments to our history that remember both royal persons and ordinary children. They have survived wars, revolutions, and hurricanes, changed horse power to electricity, but have preserved the main thing — the ability to bring joy and take us back to childhood, even if for just one short ride. And as these wooden horses spin, the fairy tale continues.
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