The southwestern town of Rust is a relatively small place, built up with charming and traditional German architecture, and a fantastic destination to visit if you want to experience authentic Northern Germany.
However, the most alluring thing about the town is its famous theme park, which brings millions of visitors year after year.
Europa Theme Park is the largest park of its kind in Germany, and its impressive history dates back to the 18th century.
It all started as a wagon-making business but, at the beginning of the 20th century, the family business started producing attractions for fun fairs.
In 1972, the owners went on a life-changing trip to America, which gave them plenty of inspiration for their next business venture.
They decided to build their own theme park, which could then be used as a showcase for the rides they were manufacturing.
Three years later, Europa Theme Park opened to its first visitors, welcoming a whopping 250,000 people in a single year. The park quickly became popular far and wide.
Today, the theme park receives more than six million visitors a year and has more than 100 attractions, 20 themed areas, and six themed hotels.
If you consider yourself a thrill-seeker, here you’ll find plenty of rides to choose from, with 12 roller coasters alone at Europa, including one reaching a height of 73 metres.
Despite the main allure of Rust being its theme parks, it is a pretty town to visit regardless, and even the themed areas of the theme park are a joy to look at.
The theme park is split into 16 zones each with a different theme, 13 of which are dedicated to different European countries, while the remaining three represent fairytale and historical characters.
The park also includes the water theme park Rulantica, which is themed around a fictional Norwegian island.
So, if you’re after an authentic German getaway with thrilling rides, engaging attractions and a rich history, Rust is the place for you.