Eurosat – CanCan Coaster is Europa-Park’s indoor icon: a Mack Rides coaster spiraling entirely inside the giant silver geodesic sphere that towers 45 meters over the park’s France area. Originally opened in 1989 as the space-themed Eurosat, the ride was gutted and rebuilt in 2018 as a dash through the nightlife of Belle Époque Paris, complete with windmills, chandeliers and the swirling skirts of the Moulin Rouge.
Few coasters anywhere have had two such distinct lives — three decades hurtling past satellites and star fields, and now a second act set to a cabaret soundtrack in near-total darkness.
Key Stats
| Type | Enclosed steel coaster (Mack Rides) |
| Originally opened | August 5, 1989 (as Eurosat) |
| Reopened | September 12, 2018 (as Eurosat – CanCan Coaster) |
| Height | 84 ft (25.5 m) |
| Speed | 37 mph (60 km/h) |
| Length | 3,000 ft (900 m) |
| Ride duration | 3 minutes 18 seconds |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Max vertical angle | 32° |
| Trains | 7 trains (6 in operation), 16 riders each |
| Hourly capacity | 1,280 riders |
| Dome height | 45 m geodesic sphere |
| Park | Europa-Park — Rust, Baden-Württemberg, Germany |
From Space Mountain Rival to Moulin Rouge
The original Eurosat opened on August 5, 1989 as Europa-Park’s answer to the enclosed space coasters of the era: a dark, disorienting ride climbing a spiral lift through the heart of the sphere before diving through nearly a kilometer of drops and helices past cosmic scenery. After 28 years, the ride closed on November 5, 2017 for one of the most ambitious coaster rebuilds Europe has seen — the track was completely replaced within the existing sphere.
When it reopened on September 12, 2018, the space theme had given way to fin-de-siècle Paris. The new CanCan Coaster pairs the classic layout concept with all-new Mack track, trains and show scenes themed to the Moulin Rouge cabaret, scored with an original soundtrack by composer Eric Babak.
Two Rides in One Sphere
The 2018 rebuild also introduced Eurosat Coastiality, a separate entrance and virtual-reality version of the ride. Wearing VR headsets, riders originally experienced a journey themed to the film “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” (2018–2024), later replaced by a “Phantom of the Opera” experience — the same physical track, transformed into an entirely different adventure.
The Ride Experience
Inside the dome, darkness does the heavy lifting. The trains climb a spiral lift glowing with theatrical light, then spend more than three minutes swooping through unseen drops and tight helices at up to 37 mph. With no inversions and a modest 32-degree maximum angle, the thrill comes entirely from speed, sound and surprise — you simply cannot see what is coming. Compact 16-seat trains dispatch constantly, six at a time on the circuit, moving 1,280 riders per hour through one of Europa-Park’s most popular queues.
FAQ
Is the Eurosat CanCan Coaster in the dark?
Yes. The entire ride takes place inside Europa-Park’s 45-meter geodesic sphere, mostly in darkness broken by themed lighting and Moulin Rouge show scenes, so drops and turns arrive unseen.
What happened to the original Eurosat?
The original space-themed Eurosat ran from August 5, 1989 to November 5, 2017. Mack Rides then replaced the entire track inside the sphere, and the ride reopened as Eurosat – CanCan Coaster on September 12, 2018.
How fast is the Eurosat CanCan Coaster?
It reaches 37 mph (60 km/h) across 3,000 ft (900 m) of track — quick for an indoor coaster, and it feels faster in the dark.
Photo: Gzen92 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)