Culture of Mainz. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Among attractive and significant tour sights the Mainz Cathedral is worth noticing. It is among the imperial cathedrals. The walls of the Cathedral witnessed numerous crowning ceremonies of many governors According to historical records the construction of the Cathedral started as far back as 975. The building of the Cathedral intricately fuses the features of Romanesque and Gothic styles however the experts of the architecture of past ages will easily find the traits of Baroque style in its construction. The Mainz Cathedral is considered to be one of the richest Christian cathedrals as its walls keep the ancient tombstones, ingenious sanctuaries and other religious artifacts.

Plenty of attractive architectural sights are located in close vicinity to the Schillerplatz square. One will see there the ancient Fastnachtsbrunnen fountain and the Electoral Palace being the residence of prince-bishop Johann Friedrich von Ostein which was built in the 18th century. Fans of the dramatic art will love the Staatstheater Mainz set on the Gutenberg square or Gutenbergplatz. It can justly be named the most beautiful theater of city.

By its outline the theater resembles the Roman Coliseum as its halls and the frontage are round shaped. Among religious sights of the city the St. Stephan Church is worth noticing. It was built by the end of the 10th century. For a rather long period of time its bell tower was the highest construction on the territory of the city. The large windows of the church are now decorated with ancient painting. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

In 1837 the opening of monument commemorated to Johann Gutenberg was held. He was the most renowned resident of the Mainz city. The monument is set on the square of the same name. Recently it was totally renovated and now the monument is presented to the city visitors in all its beauty. A city tour should also encompass the Kurfurstliches Schloss being a majestic building of red brick featuring ingenious tiled roof. The castle is among the most significant architectural buildings of Mainz. The building sinks in greenery.

The same attractive spot for tourists is the Christ Church or Christuskirche. The building gets its most impressive look in the warm season of the year as the church neighbors a scale park with plenty of fragrant flower beds and fountains. This is a perfect place for fans of hiking. The major part of the medieval buildings was destroyed during the World War II. However the city has still preserved a part of cultural heritage.

Not only the monument is dedicated to Gutenberg in Mainz, but also the museum "Gutenberg-Museum" which presents the mechanisms of printing from different regions and eras, special attention is paid to the history of printing in Europe. The most famous native of the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate was the first in this area. Museum für Antike Schiffahrt also attracts tourists, where, in addition to the fact that you can learn a lot of interesting things about shipbuilding during the reign of the Roman Empire. Moreover, there are held many interesting events for young visitors. Another advantage of the visit is that most of the exhibits in the cultural institution are interactive. To learn more about the times when Rome ruled the territory of Mainz, visit the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum.

A visit to the Landesmuseum Mainz is a great way to explore the local culture. There are pieces of fine art, household items of local residents ancestors, archaeological finds and Roman tombstones among its exhibits. The Museum does not forget about children, there is a special room for drawing and playing for them, visitors can learn more about what animals live in this region at the Naturhistorisches Museum, as well as plants that can be found in the surrounding area. Fastnachtsmuseum is a unique place in the city, it is dedicated to the most popular carnival in Germany-Fastnacht. Among its exhibits — beautiful costumes, jewellery and most of them are unique. Visitors can also watch a film about the history of the festival.

Art gallery Cadoro is located in a fashionable building. It introduces visitors to modern art (fine and sculptural), connoisseurs of modern art should definitely come here, the rest can just admire the modern look of the building. Botanischer Garten, which attracts with its fragrant aroma of tropical plants is an ideal place for a walk in Mainz. A walk through the picturesque "Volkspark", garden "Rosengarten" which is located on the territory of the Stadtpark, will be no less interesting for tourists as well as a walk in the Harbor of Mainz "Winterhafen".

The best place where you can feel the atmosphere of Mainz is the Market square "Markt" with its abundance of beautiful "gingerbread houses", which evoke thoughts of a fairy-tale world. Special decoration of the square is the magnificent lanterns that give a special charm to the area in the evening. Do not miss the opportunity to enjoy the splendour of the beautiful fountain that is located in the centre of the square "Historischer Renaissance-Marktbrunnen". Marktplatz is also the noisiest place in the whole city, especially on weekends (entertaining events are held almost every Saturday and Sunday on the square). It is nice to wander along the street Kirschgarten, where typical German half-timbered houses are located, and there is the atmosphere of the Middle Ages in the air. Moreover, it does not interfere with people dressed in modern clothes and holding gadgets.

One of the main historical attractions of the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate is the fortress Die Mainzer Zitadelle, acquired a modern look in 1660 and built on the site of a Benedictine monastery in 1050. The citadel has repeatedly defended the city from attacks, being a symbol of its inviolability. At different times, the fortress was used as a barracks, during the world wars of the XX century there were camps for prisoners of war. In 1804, a Baroque garden was added to the fortification, adding charm to the citadel. The fortress is the site of the annual OpenOhr festival aimed at youth culture.

Mainz Hauptbahnhof also deserves attention. However, this is not a surprise for the tourists who arrive in the city by train. Built in 1884 and designed by Philipp Johann Berdelli, the building is a masterpiece of neo-Renaissance architecture, combining Baroque and Neoclassicism. Sculptures depicting ancient Roman gods and goddesses, beautiful arches and columns. In addition to all of this spectacular decoration, the building is very functional. You should definitely discover another world of Mainz, having visited its catacombs "Mainzer Unterwelten". Visitors will be captivated by the stories told about these places and how they were used during World War II. The catacombs can truly be called one of the most important historical monuments of the city.

The fortress tower and the city gate of Mainz today include the well-preserved towers Holzturm, Eisenturm and Alexanderturm. Eisenturm is considered to be the oldest of them, which was built in the XIII century, the other two were built in the XV century. It is worth noting that only Holzturm and Eisenturm are available to the public, while Alexanderturm is privately owned. As part of the fortification, the towers were used as a prison for some time. In 1961, the reconstruction of the structure was needed, due to the destruction of the tower during World War II. Among other interesting structures that deserve the attention of every tourist are the Theodor-Heuss-Brücke bridge built in 1885, the beautiful Nagelsäule and Heunensaeule columns, as well as numerous sculptures located throughout the city.