Visiting Germany’s ‘other’ city
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Daniel Collins
Daniel Collins writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind. By Daniel Collins
Published on 17 June 2008
As a country with an abundance of major cities, Germany also has its fair share of smaller, quainter ones. Mainz is as underrated as a city gets and is well worth a visit for a city break.
As a country with an abundance of major cities, Germany also has its fair share of smaller, quainter
Germany probably has more than its fair share of great cities; Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, Dortmund, Cologne, Frankfurt and Stuttgart are just some of the major cities that spring to mind.
Indeed, one city in particular which may not spring to mind quite as quickly is Mainz, the capital of the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Located on the River Rhine in western Germany, Mainz has over 2000 years of history dating back to early Roman times.
Nowadays though, Mainz is a charming little city that has a great deal to offer visitors who are looking to see Germany’s ‘other’ cities. A leisurely stroll around the old-town is a must, with a chance to see the quarter that survived World War 2.
The old-town, with picturesque narrow streets, magnificent Baroque churches and restored half-timbered buildings, is a delightful place to spend an afternoon. There are also stylish boutiques, cafes and wine bars, all great places for a pit-stop at any time of day.
There is no shortage of cultural attractions in Mainz either, with the Mainz Cathedral of St. Martin near the historical centre, offering the opportunity to view some Romanesque architecture and religious works of art spanning a millennium.
Then there is the Gutenberg museum, dedicated to the man who is credited with inventing the printing press, Johannes Gutenberg, who spent his entire life in Mainz. On display here is an original Gutenberg bible which has iconic status as the start of the Gutenberg revolution and the age of the printed book.
Although Germany is perhaps more famous for its beer than it is its wine, Mainz is in fact one of the centres of the German wine industry. Mainz has been a wine growing region since Roman times, and the Mainzer Weinmarkt (wine market) is one of the great wine fairs in Germany.
Mainz is also well known for its carnival celebrations and, in particular, the Fassnacht, which has developed since the 19th century. The height of the carnival season is on ‘Rose Monday (just before Ash Wednesday), when there is a large parade through the streets of Mainz, with more than 500,000 people lining the streets.
Indeed, with all this activity going on throughout the year, hotels in Mainz are usually in high demand, though compared to the bigger German cities, there are normally rooms available to suit all needs and budgets.
Mainz is a splendid little city and has a lot to offer over its more famous German counterparts. With history and culture in abundance, along with the odd carnival and wine fair thrown in for good measure, it’s difficult to think of a more underrated city.
Daniel Collins writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.
Indeed, one city in particular which may not spring to mind quite as quickly is Mainz, the capital of the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Located on the River Rhine in western Germany, Mainz has over 2000 years of history dating back to early Roman times.
Nowadays though, Mainz is a charming little city that has a great deal to offer visitors who are looking to see Germany’s ‘other’ cities. A leisurely stroll around the old-town is a must, with a chance to see the quarter that survived World War 2.
The old-town, with picturesque narrow streets, magnificent Baroque churches and restored half-timbered buildings, is a delightful place to spend an afternoon. There are also stylish boutiques, cafes and wine bars, all great places for a pit-stop at any time of day.
There is no shortage of cultural attractions in Mainz either, with the Mainz Cathedral of St. Martin near the historical centre, offering the opportunity to view some Romanesque architecture and religious works of art spanning a millennium.
Then there is the Gutenberg museum, dedicated to the man who is credited with inventing the printing press, Johannes Gutenberg, who spent his entire life in Mainz. On display here is an original Gutenberg bible which has iconic status as the start of the Gutenberg revolution and the age of the printed book.
Although Germany is perhaps more famous for its beer than it is its wine, Mainz is in fact one of the centres of the German wine industry. Mainz has been a wine growing region since Roman times, and the Mainzer Weinmarkt (wine market) is one of the great wine fairs in Germany.
Mainz is also well known for its carnival celebrations and, in particular, the Fassnacht, which has developed since the 19th century. The height of the carnival season is on ‘Rose Monday (just before Ash Wednesday), when there is a large parade through the streets of Mainz, with more than 500,000 people lining the streets.
Indeed, with all this activity going on throughout the year, hotels in Mainz are usually in high demand, though compared to the bigger German cities, there are normally rooms available to suit all needs and budgets.
Mainz is a splendid little city and has a lot to offer over its more famous German counterparts. With history and culture in abundance, along with the odd carnival and wine fair thrown in for good measure, it’s difficult to think of a more underrated city.
Daniel Collins writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.