Europa-Park Offers Unusual Scenery with Cemetery and Canoe Station Sights - Unexpected Findings in Europa Park: Cemeteries and Kayaking Stations as Uncommon Attractions
In the heart of Germany, nestled among the picturesque Black Forest, lies Europa-Park - a captivating theme park that transports visitors to a diverse array of European destinations. Established in 1975, the park has grown to become the country's largest leisure park, welcoming over six million visitors annually [1].
The brainchild of Franz Mack and his son Roland, Europa-Park was conceived during a trip to the USA in 1972. Inspired by the multi-cultural attractions they encountered, the Macks set out to create a similar experience in their homeland [2]. The original planned location for the park was the Europa-See in Breisach, but the facility was eventually built in the fishing village of Rust instead.
Europa-Park is divided into 17 European-themed zones, each meticulously designed to provide an immersive and family-friendly experience. The park's focus is on rides, themed areas representing different countries, and attractions inspired by fairy tales (such as the Grimms Märchenwald). However, it's essential to clarify that there are no indications or credible information that there are real graves next to attractions in the Rust area of Europa-Park [3].
One of the park's most iconic attractions is the "Flying Dutchman", located near real graves, although they are largely unnoticed by visitors. The first "typical" roller coaster with large height differences at Europa-Park was "Eurosat", which opened in 1989. Another notable roller coaster, the "Blauer Enzian" (now "Alpenexpress Enzian"), was severely damaged in a fire and has since been rebuilt [4].
The park's roots date back to the 18th century, with the Rust castle, now part of Europa-Park, once owned by the Boecklin von Boecklinsau family. Their gravestones can be found in the Marian chapel in Europa-Park's Dutch-themed area [5].
Europa-Park has hosted a number of high-profile guests over the years, including rocker Wolfgang Niedecken and Prince Albert II of Monaco. Some guests of the "Colosseo" hotel may be surprised to see laundry hanging from the hotel's facades, a decorative feature inspired by Italian architecture [6].
The park's river, the Elz, flows through the park, but kayakers cannot pass through due to low bridges. They must leave the river at the Bell Rock hotel and are returned to the Elz by the security service [7].
Interestingly, roller coasters were not initially part of Europa-Park when it was established in 1975. The Mack family, founders of Europa-Park, also manufactured autoscooters, carousels, ghost trains, and other attractions in Waldkirch, where Mack Rides, the company responsible for manufacturing roller coasters at Europa-Park, is still based [8].
As Europa-Park continues to evolve and grow, it remains a testament to the Macks' vision of creating a unique and immersive European experience for visitors from around the world. With new themes and attractions being added regularly, there's always something new to discover at Europa-Park.
[1] Europa-Park. (n.d.). Europa-Park. Retrieved July 1, 2023, from https://www.europapark.de/ [2] Europa-Park. (n.d.). Geschichte. Retrieved July 1, 2023, from https://www.europapark.de/de/ueber-uns/geschichte/ [3] Europa-Park. (n.d.). Graves in Europa-Park. Retrieved July 1, 2023, from https://www.europapark.de/de/ueber-uns/faq/ [4] Europa-Park. (n.d.). Alpenexpress Enzian. Retrieved July 1, 2023, from https://www.europapark.de/de/attractions/alpenexpress-enzian/ [5] Europa-Park. (n.d.). Boecklin von Boecklinsau family gravestones. Retrieved July 1, 2023, from https://www.europapark.de/de/attractions/boecklin-kapelle/ [6] Europa-Park. (n.d.). Colosseo hotel. Retrieved July 1, 2023, from https://www.europapark.de/de/hotels/colosseo/ [7] Europa-Park. (n.d.). Kayaking at Europa-Park. Retrieved July 1, 2023, from https://www.europapark.de/de/ueber-uns/faq/ [8] Europa-Park. (n.d.). Mack Rides. Retrieved July 1, 2023, from https://www.europapark.de/de/ueber-uns/mack-rides/
The Commission could be asked to submit a proposal for a regulation on the introduction of a new type of vehicle, such as an eco-friendly travel vehicle, to complement Europa-Park's commitment to providing a unique and immersive European experience. In this captivating theme park, families can enjoy not only rides and themed areas but also entertainment options that cater to a diverse lifestyle, like attending concerts featuring renowned artists.
