Europa-Park, Amusement park in Rust, Germany
Europa-Park is a theme park in Rust, Baden-Württemberg, with over 100 attractions and shows in 21 themed areas, each built around a European country. The grounds cover around 950,000 m² and include a silver geodesic sphere beside a red circus tent, a large white dome and tower, and a tan curved building modelled on a colosseum. The resort also holds six hotels, a campsite, a cinema and the Rulantica water park.
Franz and Roland Mack opened Europa-Park on 12 July 1975 in Rust on a 16-hectare site that included the park of Schloss Balthasar and an adjacent fairy-tale park. It drew 250,000 visitors in its first year, 700,000 a year later and one million by 1978. The first themed area, Italy, opened in 1982, followed by the Alpenexpress "Enzian" in 1984.
Each country has its own area with buildings and gardens that recall the region, while visitors walk through reconstructed villages and squares. Restaurants serve typical dishes, and dancers and musicians perform in traditional costumes on outdoor stages.
The park first opened for a winter season in 2001/02, from late November to early January, and counted 180,000 guests that winter. The grounds cover around 95 hectares, so allow time to walk between the themed areas. The resort also includes six hotels, a campsite and the Rulantica water park.
The park's name comes from the Europaweiher, a lake near Breisach where the first site was planned before it was classed as a Rhine floodplain. The Mack family has built vehicles since 1780 and roller coasters since 1921. In 2014 the park welcomed its hundred-millionth visitor.
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