Mainz, Germany – one of the oldest cities in the country, which arose on the site of the former Roman fortification. Cozy and small, it attracts tourists with its narrow medieval streets and beautiful antique shops, noisy fairs and numerous monuments.
General information
Mainz, located on the west coast of the Rhine, is considered not only the capital of the Rhineland-Palatinate district, but also an important industrial, scientific and cultural center of the entire region. Appearing on a world map in 13 BC. e., he managed to maintain a unique medieval atmosphere and a large number of attractions dating back to Roman times. But this is far from the only thing the city of Mainz in Germany is famous for. Despite its relatively small size (the population of Mainz is just over 200 thousand people), it is a pleasant place to relax, which becomes even more pleasant after a walk to one of the wineries.
In addition, bright celebrations and carnivals are held here with enviable constancy. So, in late August – early September, a wine festival takes place in the city, from November 24 to December 23 the annual Christmas Market is organized at the Market Square, and in the middle of summer both tourists and locals dance with pleasure at the Johannisnacht night carnival. And in Mainz there are offices of most radio and television companies and one of the best universities in the country, so life in it literally is in full swing.
sights
The historical, religious and architectural attractions of Mainz will interest both lovers of natural sciences and ordinary tourists who come here on vacation. Let’s go through the main ones ?!
St. Stephen’s Cathedral, built in 990 by order of the main archbishop of Germany, is located on the highest point in Mainz. Being one of the oldest religious buildings in the city, it has a beautiful and rather unusual architecture. The fact is that the construction of the temple lasted more than a dozen years, so in its design you can easily notice the fashion trends of one or another period.
However, the main distinguishing feature of this church is the unique window stained-glass windows created by the famous Russian artist Marc Chagall.
These drawings are based on various biblical stories, the most famous of which is the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. Most of them are made in bright colors, combining all shades of green, blue, red and yellow. The modern organ donated to the cathedral in 2013 and the wonderful view of the central part of Mainz, which opens from the main church bell tower, deserve no less attention.
- Learn more about St. Stephan’s Church is available on the official site of attractions https://st-stephan-mainz.bistummainz.de/
- Address: Kleine Weissgasse 12, 55116 Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
Opening hours:
- Sun: from 12:00 to 17:00;
- Mon – Sat: from 10:00 to 17:00.
The main square of Mainz, located in front of the Cathedral and surrounded by the most important sights of this city, can be called without exaggeration one of the most beautiful weekly markets in Germany. Almost the entire perimeter of the square are beautiful wooden houses built in the middle of the 18th century. and perfectly preserved to this day.
In the middle of the square stands the Heunensäule, an unusual monument erected in 1975 and consisting of a smooth stone column. Despite the rather unsightly appearance of the Heunensäule, it has great historical value, because in its basement there are several hats that characterize the life of Mainz from various sides. Another interesting element of the Market Square is the medieval Marktbrunnen fountain, built on the site of an ordinary well and decorated with unusual sculptural compositions.
Now Marktplatz is one of the busiest places in Mainz. Trade is carried out 3 times a week – on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. In colorful tents, which occupy almost the entire area, you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, local produce, souvenirs and many other goods. In addition, in fine weather, several outdoor cafes appear here, from which you can admire the monumental St. Stephan’s Church.
Location: Marktplatz, 55116 Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
The Cathedral in Mainz (Germany), built at the end of the 10th century, is part of the famous imperial three of the reign of the Holy Roman Empire and is considered one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture. The temple consists of several multi-level buildings that combine elements of different styles. In the center of this composition stands a beautiful Gothic church, the carved bell tower of which is visible from all over the city.
Over the long history of its existence, Mainz Cathedral was destroyed several times, but each time it was completely restored. The last reconstruction, carried out after the Second World War, ended only in 1970. In connection with these events, the interior of Mainz Cathedral underwent noticeable changes – only sculptural tombstones of the 13th century, late Gothic altars and rows of wooden seats installed at the end of 18 have survived to this day. in.
Address: Markt 10, city of Mainz, Germany.
Opening hours depend on the time of year.
March 1 – October 31:
- Mon – Fri .: from 09:00 to 18:30;
- Sat: from 09:00 to 16:00;
- Sun: from 12:45 to 15:00.
November 1 – February 29:
- Mon – Fri .: from 09:00 to 17:00;
- Sat: from 09:00 to 16:00;
- Sun: from 12:45 to 15:00 and from 16:00 to 17:00.
Services are held daily:
- Mon – Sat: 6:25, 7:00, 7:30, 8:15;
- Sun: 7:00, 8:00, 10:00, 11:30.
Details can be found on the official website of the Cathedral – https://bistummainz.de/dom-mainz/
No less interesting Mainz attraction in Germany is the Gutenberg Museum, opened in 1900 in honor of the inventor of the then-innovative method of printing books. The walls of this museum contain many exhibits describing the various stages of development of world and German literature. However, most of the expositions are devoted to the evolution of typographic art. Here you can see the devices used to write texts at different times, and unique books created in different corners of the earth.
The main pride of this museum can be called 2 original bibles written by Johannes Gutenberg in the middle of the 15th century, and a reconstruction of the scriptorium, in which the famous master worked.
Address: Liebfrauenplatz 5, 55116 Mainz, Germany.
Opening hours:
- Tue-Sat: from 9:00 to 17:00;
- Sun: from 11:00 to 17:00.
Tours are conducted in 2 languages - German and English.
For more information about the Gutenberg Museum, visit the site attractions https://www.gutenberg-museum.de/
Important tourist attractions in the Old Town include the Cherry Orchard or Kirschgarten Square. Despite its rather modest size, Kirschgarten is one of the oldest (exists since at least 1329) and the most visited places in Mainz.
There really is something to see here. Surrounded by the Cherry Orchard, there are three-story half-timbered houses painted in bright colors. In the center stands a garden fountain, decorated with a copy of the legendary Harksheimer Madonna. For this, he is often called the Marian and Madonna.
For the construction of this fountain, decorative constructions of the destroyed medieval bridge made of rare red sandstone were used. If you look at the bottom, you can see the relief, which until 1805 was located in the now defunct Blasius Chapel.
Where to find: Kirschgarten, 55116 Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
St. Augustine’s Church, located in the central part of the Old Town, impresses not only with its ancient history, but also with its exquisite appearance. If you look at it from the street Augustinerstrasse, you can see the beautiful facade, decorated with sculptures of the Virgin Mary, St. Monica, St. Augustine and several angels.
No less delight is caused by the interior of the church, replete with marble and gilded elements. The ceiling of the temple is decorated with ancient frescoes, and the choir and nave are a single unit, which indicates that this building belongs to the Rococo style. The central altar of the church is also made in it.
But perhaps the most expensive relics of St. Augustine’s Church are a wooden statue of the Virgin, carved in the first half of the 15th century, and an organ that appeared here about 200 years ago. The sound of this ancient instrument can be enjoyed today. It should also be noted the huge carved bell tower, painted with biblical scenes and framed by a gold edging. From time immemorial, it had 3 bells cast in the 18th century. a native of the famous dynasty of foundry masters. The feeling of greatness is enhanced by large windows that fill the temple premises with sunlight.
- Address: Augustinerstr. 34, 55116 Mainz.
Working hours:
- Mon – Sat: from 9:00 to 17:00.
- Divine service: every first Thursday of the month from 17:30 to 18:00.
An overview of the main attractions of Mainz in Germany completes the acquaintance with the Carnival Fountain installed on Schiller Square. The sculptural composition of this contented young architectural monument has more than two hundred figures symbolizing the annual Pancake Week. Among them are a monk, a cat, Till Uhlenshpigel, Father Rhine, the patroness of the city of Mogontia and other mythical characters.
The opening of Fastnachtsbrunnen, reflecting the cheerfulness and openness of local residents, took place in 1967. Since then, it has been considered one of the main symbols of Mainz.
Location of attractions: Schillerplatz, Mainz.
Where to stay in Mainz?
The city of Mainz in Germany has a fairly wide selection of housing for every taste and budget. Here you can find both luxury hotels and small guest houses offering quite comfortable conditions.
As for prices, for a double room in a 3 * hotel you will have to pay from 75 € per day, while accommodation in apartments will cost a little less – from 60 €.
Transport connection
Despite the developed transport system, Mainz does not have its own airport, so most tourists prefer to get here from neighboring Frankfurt, which has two air gates at once – Hahn and Airport Frankfurt am Main.
The distance between these cities is only 32 km, so it can be easily overcome both by taxi and by rented car. However, the most popular and perhaps the most profitable way of transportation are Deutsche Bahn trains. They run from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf to Mainz Hbf every 10-15 minutes. The first flight leaves at 00:09, the last at 23:59. Travel time is 40 minutes.
The fare depends on the type of boarding pass:
- Ticket for 1 trip – 8.60 €;
- Ticket for 1 trip on the Railway Card – 6.45 €;
- Children’s ticket for 1 trip – 5.10 €;
- Children’s ticket for 1 trip on the Railway card – 3.80 €;
- Travel on the Day Card – 16.75 €;
- Travel by Children’s Day Card – 9.95 €;
- Group ticket for 5 people – 28.90 €;
- Hessian state ticket – 36,00 €.
Tickets can be purchased on the official Deutsche Bahn railway website (www.bahn.de), at the German box office (from 07:00 to 22:00) and on special machines (accepting both cash and bank cards).
In addition to Frankfurt am Main, in the immediate vicinity of Mainz is Munich, Berlin, Cologne and Dusseldorf.
Interesting Facts
There are several interesting facts connected with Mainz in Germany that deserve no less attention than architectural and historical sights:
- In 2011, Mainz received the title of city of science;
- Its former name is Mogontiac;
- Mainz is considered one of the country’s main media centers;
- The asteroid Moguntia, discovered by Franz Kaiser in 1913, is named after this city;
- In this area you can enjoy 2 traditional dishes at once. At the same time, both are prepared from different varieties of cheese. The first, Spundekäse, is based on local cheese and natural cream pasta, served with onions, pretzels and good beer. The second dish, called Handkäse, is a flavored sour milk cheese marinated in vinegar and sprinkled with caraway seeds;
- During the construction of the local town hall, built in the 70s. last century, tons of expensive Swedish marble were used;
- With the opening in 1477 of the first university, Mainz became a real student city.
Mainz, Germany will leave a truly lasting impression and will give you some pleasant and eventful days.
Mainz in 1 day:
