Home to Germany’s largest theme park and the Renaissance-style Balthasar Castle, Rust is a small town near the banks of the Rhine River along Germany’s border with France. It’s a popular destination for families due to its kid-friendly attractions and is on the doorstep of Taubergießen’s protected wetlands and floodplains.

Things to do

Travelling with kids? Don’t miss a visit to Europa-Park, a family-friendly destination designed around several themed areas, including Grimm’s Enchanted Forest, Adventureland and Minimoys Kingdom. Ride the historic Alpenexpress Enzian roller coaster and experience the high-speed Atlantica SuperSplash or get lost in the fairytale world of Sleeping Beauty's Castle. Adjacent to Europa-Park is Rulantica, a Scandinavian-inspired water park with 17 different water slides.

A short drive north of Rust is Funny-World, another amusement park that’s geared towards younger children. Highlights include the African-inspired miniature golf course, the park’s pedal boats and children’s railway, as well as the indoor Tortuga Kinderland and the Big Mountain Splash water coaster.

Nature-lovers can head west to the Taubergießen Nature Reserve, a protected tract of wetland that hugs the Upper Rhine River. It is one of the largest nature reserves in Baden-Württemberg. Join a boat tour to cruise the labyrinth of watercourses, purple moor grass meadows and floodplain forests that provide habitat for rare orchids and nutria swamp rats.

Getting around

Rust is just under two hours’ drive from Stuttgart or around 45 minutes from Strasbourg Airport across the border in France. It’s a five-minute taxi ride from the closest railway station in Ringsheim or can be accessed by several bus services that travel through the town. The centre of Rust is compact enough to explore on foot.