Mainz

Mainz
Travel times from Augsburg:
Train – 3 hours, 30 minutes
Car – 3 hours

Regal Mainz dates back to Roman times and is closely associated with the reigns of its Prince Electors and the invention of modern printing by one of its native sons, Johann Gutenberg.  So while a small piece of its history and importance took place during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, it has maintained many excellent examples of art and architecture from that era, in addition to plenty of other attractions.

The Rhine waterway bustles with shipping and the vital nerve of the metropolis of Rhine- Hesse. The congress and event venues, Rhinegold Hall and Electoral Palace, are located on its bank alongside the Baroque state government buildings and the modern City Hall. You can sense the relaxed character of the city during a stroll along the embankment promenade as the people of Mainz saunter along here, filling the benches and green spaces, or sunbathing on the Rhine beaches.

The city is self-confident and proud of its rich culture as one of Germany’s oldest cities. You can experience 4,000 years of writing from all over the world at the Gutenberg Museum, where the “Man of the Millennium’s” workshop has been reconstructed.  With a large number of printing implements, old presses and typesetting machines, the history of letterpress printing comes to life. The main focus of the permanent exhibition is a collection of important printed works from the l5th century to the present. The highlights are two copies of the world-famous 42-line Gutenberg Bible.

Mainz’s Marktplatz (Market Square) is a hub of city life.  It is bordered by market houses that were reconstructed after WWII and by the Cathedral complex. The Cathedral is still almost completely enclosed by surrounding buildings that grew up over the centuries, creating a red-tinted sandstone “mountain" of a cathedral. Many of the out-buildings were constructed in the Baroque period and survived the War nearly unscathed.

Also in the Marktplatz is the spectacular Renaissance fountain known as the Marktbrunnen, installed in 1526 but situated atop a well dating to Roman times.  Its cheerful design, covered in putti and topped by a Virgin and Child statue, lends bright color to the area around the Cathedral. Another quaint gathering area graced by a beautiful fountain is the “Kirschgarten” (Cherry Orchard).   No cherry trees remain, but the half-timbered houses that surround the square lend it a charming air. The Marian Fountain at its center has an ornate Baroque style, but was surprisingly built in the 20th century!

The Prince-Elector Palace was built from 1729-1740 for Franz Ludwig von Pfalz-Neuburg, Prince Elector and Archbishop of Mainz, in a style heavily influenced by French Baroque architecture.  Franz Ludwig never had the pleasure of living in the palace, though, as he died during its construction.  The site he chose for the palace was in close vicinity to his residence, the Electoral Palace.  This means that you won’t have far to walk from the Baroque Prince-Elector Palace to one of the most important buildings of the Renaissance era in Germany.

The Electoral Palace’s east wing is one of the last examples of German Renaissance architecture. It is a regal building of red sandstone with turrets at each corner and beautiful detailing around the windows.  It now houses the renowned Romano-Germanic Central Museum, an interesting showcase of Roman, Medieval, and earlier artifacts.

Mainz’s most popular area for a stroll is Augustiner Street, the city’s main business thoroughfare until the 17th century. Surrounded by boutiques, cafes, pubs, and residential buildings, the magnificent façade of the towering Augustiner Church stands out. The 18th century church survived WWII undamaged, unlike many of the city’s other churches. Venture inside to explore the impressive gilded interior in its original state, including ceiling frescoes depicting the life of St. Augustine and the history of the order which had its home on Augustiner Street since the 13th Century. St. Peter’s Church is an awe-inspiring sample of the Rococo style’s sensory abundance with its “twin onion” towers and rich interior.  Its late-Baroque elegance was restored to its original splendor nearly 20 years ago, retaining original features like the white-gold and wood pulpit and luxuriantly decorated altars.  

After you’ve finished exploring all Mainz has to offer, it will be just a few short minutes by bus or train before you arrive in our next city filled with Renaissance and Baroque treasures, Wiesbaden