Katun is the Mayan-ruins-themed inverted roller coaster at Mirabilandia amusement park near Ravenna, Italy — a Bolliger & Mabillard machine designed by Werner Stengel that has been sending riders through two ‘Stargate’ tunnels since April 1, 2000. It’s sometimes typed or misheard as ‘Katoon’ or ‘Catun,’ but there’s only one ride: Katun.
This guide covers everything people search for about the coaster: its exact top speed, its height in feet and meters (altezza, for Italian visitors), how intense it actually feels and who can ride it, how it compares to other famous B&M inverted coasters, what its name means, and what to know before you visit Mirabilandia to ride it.
Quick Answer
Katun is a Bolliger & Mabillard inverted roller coaster at Mirabilandia (Savio, Italy) that opened April 1, 2000. It stands about 164 feet (50 m) tall, runs a roughly 3,937-foot (1,200 m) track, and includes six inversions: a vertical loop, a zero-G roll, a cobra roll, and two corkscrews. Most enthusiast databases, including RCDB and Wikipedia, list its top speed at about 65 mph (105 km/h); Mirabilandia’s own current ride page states 110 km/h (about 68 mph), so expect the true figure to land somewhere in that range depending on train weight and conditions.
How Fast Is Katun? (Top Speed Explained)
The most commonly cited top speed for Katun is about 65 mph (105 km/h), the figure used by RCDB and Wikipedia and the one that’s circulated in enthusiast circles for years. Mirabilandia’s official ride page, however, currently advertises Katun as reaching 110 km/h (roughly 68 mph) — a modest bump over the long-standing enthusiast figure.
The discrepancy isn’t unusual for coasters that have run for over two decades: top speed can vary slightly by train weight, temperature, and how the ride is currently measured or marketed. If you want the number most consistent with independent tracking databases, use 65 mph (105 km/h); if you want the park’s own current claim, it’s 110 km/h. Either way, Katun’s speed comes almost entirely from its first drop off the lift hill, since the layout has no launch — and enthusiasts consistently rank that first drop as one of the strongest of any B&M invert.
How Tall Is Katun? (Height, or ‘Altezza’, in Feet and Meters)
Katun’s height — altezza, for anyone searching in Italian — is about 164 feet (50 meters), with a first drop of roughly 148 feet (45 meters) from the top of the lift hill. That height, combined with its 3,937-foot (1,200 m) track, has historically made Katun the fourth-tallest complete-circuit inverted coaster in the world and the longest inverted coaster in Europe.
Riders must be at least 55 inches (140 cm) tall to board, per the park’s posted requirement, and Mirabilandia recommends the ride for ages 12 and up.
Katun at a Glance
Park: Mirabilandia, Savio, Italy
Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard
Designer: Werner Stengel (Ing.-Büro Stengel)
Location in park: Adventureland zone
Opened: April 1, 2000
Height: About 164 ft (50 m)
First drop: About 148 ft (45 m)
Top speed: About 65 mph (105 km/h) per RCDB/Wikipedia; 110 km/h (68 mph) per Mirabilandia’s own site
Length: About 3,937 ft (1,200 m)
Inversions: 6 (vertical loop, zero-G roll, cobra roll, two corkscrews)
Duration: About 2 minutes, 22 seconds
Minimum height: 55 in (140 cm)
Hourly capacity: About 1,700 riders per hour
Trains: 3 trains, 8 cars each, 32 riders per train
The Ride Experience
Riders board Katun’s trains — each seating 32 across eight cars — before climbing the lift hill and dropping into a course that mixes classic B&M inverted-coaster elements: a vertical loop, a zero-G roll, a cobra roll, and a pair of corkscrews near the finish. Because the trains hang below the track with riders’ feet dangling free, the inversions feel more disorienting and weightless than on a traditional sit-down coaster — a hallmark of B&M’s inverted design that helped make Katun a fan favorite in the early 2000s.
The layout is broken up by two themed ‘Stargate’ tunnels styled after ancient Mayan ruins — one shortly after the station and another before the final brake run — giving the ride a distinct sense of place amid Mirabilandia’s coaster lineup. The full circuit runs about 2 minutes and 22 seconds, with the park citing a maximum force of around 4 g through the inversions, and the ride is designed to cycle roughly 1,700 riders per hour across its three trains.
How Katun Compares to Other B&M Inverted Coasters
Katun is often discussed alongside the other well-known Bolliger & Mabillard inverted coasters that share its basic hardware and inversion set: Nemesis at Alton Towers (UK), Alpengeist at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Montu at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and Banshee at Kings Island. All of these use the same core B&M invert formula — a vertical loop, roll elements, and corkscrews — but pacing and terrain interaction differ a lot between them.
Enthusiasts frequently single out Katun’s first drop and overall pacing as unusually strong for the model — many B&M inverts slow down noticeably through their inversions, but Katun is regularly described as maintaining a faster, more forceful tempo throughout. Where it’s less distinctive is terrain use: unlike Montu, which dives through excavated trenches, or Nemesis, which is built into a below-ground ravine, Katun runs largely above grade, leaning on its Mayan temple theming and Stargate tunnels rather than landscape tricks to create atmosphere. Rankings among these coasters vary widely by rider preference, but Katun’s combination of speed, forceful pacing, and being Europe’s longest inverted coaster keeps it in the conversation for the best of the type.
Is Katun Scary? Intensity and Who Should Ride
Katun is an intense ride by most standards: six inversions, a fast first drop, and forces the park lists at around 4 g, all while riders’ legs hang free below the track. That combination is what makes B&M inverted coasters feel more disorienting than a sit-down looping coaster, even though the actual track layout is similar in complexity to many other steel coasters.
It isn’t a ride for first-timers or younger children — Mirabilandia sets a 55-inch (140 cm) minimum height and recommends it for ages 12 and up, positioning it toward teens and adults rather than families with young kids. If you’re new to inverted coasters or sensitive to strong inversions and quick force changes, expect Katun to feel more jarring than a standard looping coaster, though it doesn’t involve a launch or steep drops beyond its main lift hill.
What Does ‘Katun’ Mean? (And Why It’s Sometimes Spelled ‘Katoon’ or ‘Catun’)
The ride’s name comes from the Maya calendar, where a katun is a unit of time equal to 20 tuns, or roughly 20 years (7,200 days) — a fitting nod to the coaster’s ancient Mayan ruins theming. It ties directly into the two Stargate tunnels and the temple-style structures riders pass through mid-ride.
There’s no separate ‘Katoon’ or ‘Catun’ ride at Mirabilandia — those are simply common misspellings or phonetic guesses at the same coaster’s name. If you searched either term, you’re looking for Katun.
Legacy and Rankings
For years after opening, Katun was cited as the longest inverted roller coaster in Europe and one of the tallest complete-circuit inverted coasters worldwide, helping cement Mirabilandia’s reputation among European thrill parks. It also placed highly in Mitch Hawker’s Best Roller Coaster Poll, an annual enthusiast survey of top steel coasters, peaking at 5th place between 2005 and 2007 before settling further down the list in later years as newer coasters entered the field.
More than two decades after opening, Katun remains one of Mirabilandia’s signature attractions, located in the park’s Adventureland area alongside the rest of its thrill-ride lineup.
Planning Your Visit to Katun at Mirabilandia
Katun is a walk-up attraction at Mirabilandia — you don’t need to pre-book a specific ride time, though it’s compatible with the park’s paid Flash Pass options (Gold, Regular, and One Shot) if you want to skip the regular queue. It’s located in the Adventureland zone, alongside the rest of the park’s thrill-ride cluster.
Mirabilandia typically runs seasonally from spring into early November, with shorter daytime hours in the shoulder months (April, May, September, October) and extended evening hours during the summer peak. Ticket pricing works in tiers — online advance-purchase tickets are generally cheaper than buying at the gate, and there are reduced rates and free admission thresholds based on visitor height. Because exact calendars and prices change by season and year, check Mirabilandia’s official hours and ticket page before you go for the current calendar, ticket prices, and Flash Pass options.
Katun roller coaster at Mirabilandia FAQs
How fast does Katun go?
Enthusiast databases like RCDB and Wikipedia list Katun’s top speed at about 65 mph (105 km/h). Mirabilandia’s own official ride page currently states 110 km/h (about 68 mph). The true figure likely falls somewhere in between depending on train weight and conditions.
How tall is Katun?
Katun stands about 164 feet (50 meters) tall, with a first drop of roughly 148 feet (45 meters).
What does the name Katun mean?
Katun is a unit of the Maya calendar equal to about 20 years (7,200 days), chosen to match the ride’s ancient Mayan ruins theming.
Is Katun the same ride as ‘Katoon’ or ‘Catun’?
Yes. ‘Katoon’ and ‘Catun’ are just common misspellings or phonetic guesses — there is only one ride, Katun, at Mirabilandia.
Is Katun scary or intense?
It’s one of Mirabilandia’s more intense coasters: six inversions, a fast first drop, and forces around 4 g, with riders’ legs hanging free below the track. It has a 55-inch (140 cm) minimum height and is recommended for ages 12 and up.
How does Katun compare to other B&M inverted coasters?
Katun is often compared to Nemesis (Alton Towers), Alpengeist (Busch Gardens Williamsburg), and Montu (Busch Gardens Tampa Bay). Enthusiasts frequently note that Katun keeps a faster, more forceful pace through its inversions than many other B&M inverts, and it remains the longest inverted coaster in Europe.
Do I need a Fast Pass or reservation to ride Katun?
No — Katun is a standard walk-up attraction. Mirabilandia’s paid Flash Pass options (Gold, Regular, and One Shot) are available if you want to skip the regular line, but they’re optional.
Where is Katun located in Mirabilandia?
Katun is located in the Adventureland zone of the park, alongside several of Mirabilandia’s other thrill rides.
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