The entire old town area of Rust, considered one of the most picturesque of its kind, is now protected as a historical monument. The numerous townhouses from the 16th to the 19th century feature well-maintained Baroque or Renaissance facades with beautiful window and portal frames, bay windows, heraldic and stucco decorations. The town center covers an area of about 9 hectares and is home to around 320 residents of Rust.
The historical city center is protected under the "Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict." Blue and white plaques mark the individual objects.
When the Free City of Rust was selected in 1975 - along with Salzburg and Krems - by the representatives of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg as a model city for the European Year of Architectural Heritage, a small town was deliberately chosen, which, unlike many other historical cities, does not have residential areas threatened by decay. Rust was chosen because it had a vibrant and not a revitalized old town. The houses still serve their original function as residential and business properties for the citizens.
In 2001, the old town of Rust was jointly added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list along with the region of Fertö-to - Neusiedler Lake. Rust has already been awarded several times as the "Most Beautiful Town of Burgenland" for its conservation and cultural efforts.