Spooky moments in Germany's biggest theme park

Opened in 1975 by the former circus-wagon-making Mack family to showcase their rollercoaster rides, Europa-Park is Germany's biggest theme park, spread over 85 hectares in Rust, a town near Freiburg in the Germany-France-Switzerland border triangle Photograph: PR

As well as scaring yourself silly on the rides, every autumn you can join the month-long Halloween horror celebration, where a giant pumpkin (with a rollercoaster ride inside it) takes centre stage and the park is decked out with cobwebs, fake bats and scary street performers Photograph: PR

It's the second biggest theme park in Europe after Disneyland Paris (more than four million visitors last year), but is relatively unknown in the UK despite a profile-raising visit from the England football team's wives and girlfriends during the 2006 World Cup Photograph: PR

The Halloween festivities include the Terenzi Horror Nights, a mix of interactive theatre and temporary horror-themed attractions produced by ex-boyband singer Marc Terenzi (Heat Between the Sheets anyone? It reached number 40 in the German charts) Photograph: PR

In the Carnival of Fear, there are "demonic harlequins" ... Photograph: PR

... killer clowns ... Photograph: PR

... generally weird looking characters ... Photograph: PR

Obviously, it doesn't shy away from standard amusement-park kitsch ... Photograph: Sarah Bourn

... but it's the rides that you really come for - and there are 100, with nine white-knuckle rollercoasters including Silver Star, Europe's biggest at 236ft high, with a top speed of 80mph and centrifugal forces of up to 4g Photograph: PR

Nearby Freiburg claims to be the most eco-friendly city in Europe, and the green credentials extend into the park itself – it has a solar power plant, braking energy from some rides helps power the mains supply, and the park uses electric vehicles and energy-saving lamps Photograph: PR

Train fares to Rust from London start at under £100, seat61.com. Accommodation is available at Europa-Park resort, or in Rust (Pension Sigg, doubles from £45 a night). Adult park day pass: €31.50 (£25); child (aged 4-11): €28 (£22). More on getting there Photograph: PR