Kurfurstliches Schloss

"This cathedral above the Rhine Valley with all of its might and glory would have remained in my memory even if I had never seen it again," wrote the German author Anna Seghers. The majestic Cathedral of Mainz is a key feature of the cityscape even today – over a thousand years after its construction. Mainz, located at the intersection of important trade routes and the place where Saint Boniface worked and lived, became an important centre of Christianity from 746/47. The city was eventually promoted to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mainz in 780. During the time of Archbishop Willigis (975-1011), it bore the title of "Holy See of Mainz".

Mainz is the Gate to the Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site. Certainly the most leisurely way to enjoy Mainz is by indulging one’s self in a cruise. Passing by the famous Loreley and many castles in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site is a must when coming to Mainz. The Conference Centre is directly located on the Rhine river banks. Huge window fronts reveal stunning views onto the water and into Hessen, our neighbour state.

Mainz – The City of the Man of the Millennium: Johannes Gutenberg In the year 2000 the city of Mainz celebrated the 600th birthday of Johannes Gutenberg who was born in Mainz in 1400. Today, Gutenberg is referred to as the “Man of the Millennium” – for his pioneering invention, the printing with moveable types. The Gutenberg Museum Mainz: Opposite the cathedral in the heart of the old part of Mainz in Germany lies the Gutenberg Museum. It is one of the oldest museums of printing in the world and attracts experts and tourists from all corners of the globe.

Mainz is home to the Carnival, the so called “Meenzer Fassenacht” which has developed since the early 19th century. Carnival in Mainz has its roots in the criticism of social and political injustices under the shelter of cap and bells. If you want to explore the traditional carnival festivities in Germany, Mainz is the place to be. “Meenzer Fassenacht” takes place every year in early spring.

The old centre of Mainz with its medieval cathedral, the Electoral Palace, patrician town houses, narrow lanes, cobblestone streets and beautiful squares reflects the fascinating history of the city. Modern landmark buildings are the City Hall by the Danish architect Are Jacobsen built in 1971, the "Am Brand" shopping centre, the Rheingoldhalle conference centre and Fort Malakoff. Walking through Mainz means walking through 2000 years of history and cultural life, Golden Ages and times of upheaval and utter destruction. The city centre extending from Kaisertor in the north along Kaiserstrasse, and from the main railway station to the citadel in the south is the oldest part of the city, dating back to Roman times. The settlement was known as Mogontiacum or Aurea Moguntia, and many buildings and features remind us of the time when the city was the capital of the Roman imperial province of Germania Superior.