Experience the best of Rust

Rust is a village of about four thousand people on the flat plain of the Upper Rhine in Baden-Württemberg, between the Black Forest hills to the east and the river that forms the border with France. It is best known for Europa-Park, Germany's largest theme park, opened in 1975, whose themed areas are modelled on European countries. The village itself is small and quiet, with vineyards and fields stretching around it.

Colmar, one of the main towns of Alsace, is about 31 km to the south-west across the Rhine, and Strasbourg to the north and Freiburg to the south are each about an hour away or less. East of Rust the Black Forest rises, with the Triberg waterfalls and cuckoo clocks within reach, and the wine hills of the Kaiserstuhl, an old volcano, lie to the south.

Baden's kitchen mixes German and French habits, with Flammkuchen, spätzle noodles, Black Forest ham and Black Forest cherry gateau all common, and wine from Baden and nearby Alsace on the table. The Upper Rhine is among the warmest and sunniest parts of Germany, with mild springs, hot summers and gentle autumns, while winters are grey and damp.