Located on the western shore of Lake Neusiedl, Rust is a historic city in the Austrian state of Burgenland. Previously ruled by Hungary, it is the smallest city in the country, with less than 2,000 permanent residents, and is renowned for its cultivation of ice wine.
Things to do in Rust
In the heart of Rust is the Fischerkirche, a fortified church originally built in the 12th century. Perched atop a small hill, it is dedicated to St. Pancras and St. Aegidius, with beautiful paintings decorating its walls. The Fischerkirche is open to the public as a museum and is particularly renowned for its Gothic “Fisherman's Madonna”.
On the edge of Rust is the Familypark Neusiedlersee, which encompasses family-friendly rides, a petting zoo and a fairytale-inspired forest. It originally opened to the public in 1968, with “Filippo” the cat serving as its mascot. You can brave the “Godbolt” rollercoaster, experience “Leonardo’s Flying Machine” or let the kids loose in the huge sand playground. Dotted throughout the amusement park are fast-food eateries serving everything from burgers and donuts to Mediterranean cuisine.
Rust makes an excellent base for exploring Lake Neusiedl, which is surrounded by reed beds that provide an important habitat for native wildlife. It has been protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with more than 300 bird species recorded along its shores. It’s particularly notable for its breeding population of great egrets and offers regular sightings of white storks.
Getting around Rust
Rust is an hour’s drive from Vienna and 45 minutes from Vienna International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular buses connect to Rust and the city centre is small enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the area.