Things to do in Mainz for Connoisseurs

Top sights in Mainz for connoisseurs

Advertisement – ​​Mainz's attractions for connoisseurs are what attract us to the city on the Rhine. The city invites you to spend your holiday in one of Germany's wine regions. Mainz is one of the Great Wine Capitals of the World. This puts the city on the Rhine on the list of wine cities in the world. These include Adelaide in South Australia, Bilbao in the Rioja wine region in Spain, Bordeaux in France, Porto in Portugal or San Francisco with the Napa Valley. A renowned club of wine towns. Mainz represents Germany's largest wine-growing region in Rheinhessen. It is also one of the Romantic Cities in Rheinland-Pfalz. Discover the top sights in Mainz.

 

 

We are here on the occasion of the Mainz Wine Market, a wine Festivalwhich takes place every year on the last weekend in August and first September. Then the people of Mainz celebrate their wine in the city park. Music, artisan market and of course the Riesling wines from Rheinhessen make this wine market a delightful experience. That fits well with our search for beautiful cities in Germany to enjoy. We are excited about the top sights in Mainz that the city has to offer for connoisseurs.

 

 

 

Enjoy top sights in Mainz with all your senses

But we don't just want to explore where you can experience wine in Mainz. For us, enjoyment means "enjoying with all your senses". That's why we're looking for top sights in Mainz that offer us this experience. We discover many possibilities in the old town of Mainz. We see attractions and places in the city that invite you to enjoy. Restaurants, cafes and bars tempt you to stay on this hot summer day in August. In addition, a stroll along the Rhine promenade makes our visit to Mainz an enjoyable experience. We present these tips and Mainz sights in this article. You can use it to plan your personal visit to Mainz and make it an enjoyable experience.

 

Mainz tips for a city tour

Discover Mainz with our tips for connoisseurs! Start in the old town and look at the cathedral. Visit the Gutenberg Museum and enjoy regional wines. Try local specialties in the charming cafés. Let yourself be pampered by Rhineland-Palatinate hospitality. Perfect for a relaxing day full of culture and enjoyment.

 

We start our city tour to the top sights in Mainz in Novotel *in which we spend two nights. The hotel is located above the Kupferberg terraces, right next to the former Kupferberg sparkling wine cellar. The location is ideal for sightseeing, because we can reach the old town of Mainz in a few minutes using the elevator in the Kupferbergterrasse car park. In order to be able to use this, we get a parking ticket at the hotel reception. From the exit of the parking garage five floors below it is only a few steps downhill to Schillerplatz and the carnival fountain, where we meet our city guide Beate.

Top sights in Mainz - the carnival fountain at Schillerplatz

This is a mandatory date among the Mainz sights. Who doesn't know that “Mainz sings and laughs”? The carnival session takes place every year on Friday before Rose Monday in the Grand Hall of the Electoral Palace. I grew up with the television broadcast of this carnival program. I can still remember that it was a must every year in the living room with my grandmother as soon as we had our first television. What is new to me, however, is that this type of Fastnacht celebration is mainly found in Catholic cities and regions. "The reason is that before Lent you can go crazy again," explains Beate.

The carnival fountain embodies the crazy season in Mainz. This makes it one of the top sights in Mainz. His creator Blasius Spreng represents a real firework of carnival symbolism in the bronze sculpture. You have to look for the excess of the figures. But we discover the purse washer who washes his empty purse in the well water after the end of the carnival season. The hangover on one of the bronze pillars stands for what is left of the excessive consumption of wine during the carnival season. The three W's on the board that a monk is holding in his hand have nothing to do with the World Wide Web. They mean "Weck, Worscht and Woi" (bread, sausage and wine) and are typical of Mainz enjoyment.

 

 

Figures around Schillerplatz telling stories

In the old town of Mainz, there are other sculptures that focus on the festive carnival of the city. We discover a tambourine dancer and a musician at the Schillerplatz and a well-fed ranzengardist in front of the food court.

Schillerplatz is one of the attractions of Mainz and not only because of the Carnival Fountain. The park with the statue of Friedrich Schiller owes its name to the famous German poet. The sculpture was erected on the spot in the 19th century. However, the park is much older and has already been used by the Romans. Probably there was a Roman civil settlement along Schiller Street in Roman times. In the Middle Ages, the square served as a marketplace.

What I like most is the figure of the Schoppenstechcher. I think I can almost see how red his bulbous nose glows from the wine in his bottle. The prank flashes from his eyes. This is how I imagine the typical “Meenzer” (Mainz). Beate explains to me that he drinks his wine from a typical Mainz wine glass. A pint is almost half a liter of wine. “The glass has grooves on the foot. You can keep it that way even if you already have a few pinties in your mouth, ”says Beate with a laugh.

The Proviant Magazine - one of the Things to do in Mainz for Connoisseurs

The Schoppenstecher and the Ranzenguard stand in front of the Mainz Provisions Magazine. In a way, this building, which is particularly impressive because of its size, has been associated with enjoyment since its inception. This seven-story building was used to store food, which was primarily used to supply the military. However, today it is not open to the public.

We walk back to Schillerplatz past the stately villas of former noble families. One of them is now home to the Institut Francais. Others house offices and public institutions.

On the other side of Schillerplatz, we see that modern glass buildings have supplanted historic buildings. However, we leave these aside and continue to the

Ballplatz

In one of the cafés on the square there are almost only young girls. Beate laughs and explains: “There is a reason for that. The Maria Ward Schule, a girls' high school, is located on the ball court. There is also a high school for boys not far from here. It is therefore no wonder that the upper school students from both schools meet at the ball court during their breaks. For this reason, some people from Mainz have given the square the nickname "Balzplatz". "

I like the fountain of the young people under an umbrella. At temperatures in the mid-thirties (Celsius) on this hot August day, I would very much like to join them under their wet umbrella.

We can cool down ourselves at the

Garden of the Schott music printing plant

This is not always open to the public. However, concerts are held there, giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy this idyllic garden at cultural events. We can take a look inside and show you how beautiful the ambience is in this garden. While sheet music is being printed in the surrounding buildings, we can hardly get enough of the exotic plants.

 

 

We follow narrow streets to the

Augustiner Eremitenkirche - One of the Ecclesiastical Mainz Sights

Unlike the cathedral, whose interior looks dark and gloomy, the magnificently furnished interior of the Augustinian Church is a feast for the eyes. Even if Beate draws our attention to the fact that some of the putti don't smile as sweetly as others. “The church ran out of money here,” she explains. "The putti in the second row are from lesser-known artists." However, this does not detract from the overall impression of the church. On the contrary, with its ceiling painting and the Stumm organ, it is one of the magnificent buildings of the diocese of Mainz.

 

 

The Half-Timbered Houses at the Kirschgarten

From here it is only a few steps to the half-timbered houses at the Kirschgarten. Here you can feel the breath of history. The Haus zum Aschaffenberg dates back to 1450. Despite several renovations over the centuries, I can well imagine what it might have looked like here in the Middle Ages. Places like this enchant. They encourage you to take a closer look at the history of the city. You can best do this on

Cathedral of Mainz

The cathedral is one of the most important historical Mainz sights. The city has probably been the seat of a diocese since the 4th century. You don't know exactly because the sources are controversial. What is certain is that Archbishop Willigis, who was also Arch Chancellor of the empire, had a cathedral built in the 10th century based on the model of St. Peter's Church in Rome. The townspeople did not need a new church, especially one of this size. Willing, however, wanted a cathedral in which kings are crowned. Even if his cathedral burned down in August 1009, his successor was the scene of six royal coronations. This makes it one of the imperial domes in Germany. Unlike in Aachen However, only kings were crowned in Mainz. The cathedral has been restored and expanded several times. You can tell that from its facade. Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque elements are evidence of this.

We like the cloister best. The flowers and plants in the courtyard give the Gothic building a lightness, that we will not find again inside the cathedral. This, in contrast, looks dark and barren. Quite different from the Augustinerkirche, which looks lighter and friendlier with its Baroque style.

Pillars and Fountains at the Cathedral - Discover historical Things to do in Mainz

The fountains and sculptures in the cathedral area are worth seeing. The Heunensäule stands on the market. The sandstone pillar is a gift from the city Miltenberg on the Main. It is one of several pillars that have been found in the Miltenberg region. It is believed that they were created by Franconian stonemasons for the reconstruction of the Mainz Cathedral in 1009.

Probably one of the most beautiful Renaissance fountains in Germany is also on the market. It was a gift from the Archbishop of Mainz, Cardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg, to his city. Carefully with the ulterior motive of appeasing the minds of the urban population. Because two years later the Peasants' War broke out, in which the Mainz people also demanded the abolition of special church rights.

Finally, the nail column on Liebfrauenplatz in front of the cathedral is more recent. It is the result of a fundraising campaign during World War I to raise money for social institutions. Each donor was allowed to drive a nail into the column.

 

 

Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz - His Museum is one of Mainz's most important Sights

The Gutenberg Museum is also located on Liebfrauenplatz. Johannes Gutenberg is a son of the city of Mainz. With his invention of printing, he revolutionized the spread of knowledge. Until then, this was reserved for the monks in their monastery offices, but his book prints made knowledge generally accessible. American journalists therefore voted Gutenberg “Man of the Second Millennium”.

There are two Gutenberg Bibles in the museum. We are not allowed to take pictures there, so you have to take a look at the exhibition yourself.

Mainz Weekly Market and Market Breakfast

Beate tells us that all of Mainz meets on the square in front of the Gutenberg Museum for market breakfast. It's a shame that we're leaving on Friday. That would have been a good opportunity to enjoy the Mainz conviviality even more. But even so, we notice some of this when we visit. No matter in which restaurant, café or bar we stop. It never takes a long time until we start talking to the Mainzer company. Always with a mischievous smile and a friendly tip on what we should still look at in Mainz. A "Piffche Woi" (a glass of wine) should not be missing. If you are in Mainz on a Saturday in summer, you can attend the market breakfast every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 16 p.m. from late March to mid-November.

 

 

Watch the Ships on the Rhine

At the Liebfrauenmarkt we finally say goodbye to Beate, who showed us her Mainz sights. We are drawn down to the banks of the Rhine. Behind the Rheingoldhalle, the promenade stretches along the Rhine. A short rain shower drove us into the café of the Hilton Hotel. Under large parasols, which in this case protect us against the brief thunderstorm, we observe the brisk ship traffic on the Rhine. Just a few meters from us she is laying Leonardo da Vinci off the bank and continue their river cruise south. The three-master Mainz-Kastel, which once also belonged to Mainz, is located on the Wiesbaden bank of the Rhine. The Theodor Heuss Bridge connects the two cities and the banks of the Rhine.

 

 

Relax on Mainz Beach

After our coffee break in the café, we continue our walk along the Rhine promenade. Only a few steps later we reach the beach of Mainz, which invites you to chill out with deck chairs on the river bank. A group of men play beach volleyball. Most visitors, however, take advantage of the offer and relax with a cocktail in one of the lounge chairs on the sandy beach.

 

 

Mainz Restaurants for Connoisseurs

During our stay in Mainz we explore not only Mainz attractions, but also Mainz restaurants. These are presented here. We tested all of them ourselves.

Heiliggeist restaurant

Rentengasse 2
55116 Mainz
Tel. 06131 225757

The Heiliggeist Restaurant convinced us with its historical flair, its modern German and Mediterranean cuisine and its good service. We had ordered a table for the opening hours in the evening (in our case for 18.00 p.m.). I have seldom seen a restaurant that filled up as quickly as the Heiliggeist Restaurant.

On this balmy August evening we chose to eat in the guest garden, which offers a peaceful green oasis on the edge of the old town of Mainz. The restaurant is located in the former Heilig-Geist-Spital. This looks back on a history of more than 780 years. Archbishop Siegfried III. von Eppstein had built it on the banks of the Rhine. The Rhine no longer reaches the front of the restaurant. In the centuries since then the river shores have been filled in. However, the historical flair is still noticeable under the cross vaults in the restaurant.

After tasting Mainz specialties several times on this day (we recommend other restaurants below), we were seduced here with Mediterranean asparagus with green asparagus, apple, parsley, capers and tomatoes and roast beef on potato fritters. Both tasted delicious and fresh. In addition there was a great homemade lemonade.

 

Weinhaus Wilhelmi

Rheinstraße 53
55116 Mainz
Tel. 06131 224949

The evening before, we had dinner just around the corner in one of the oldest wine bars in Mainz, the Wilhelmi wine house. We enjoyed typical Mainz specialties in a rustic atmosphere. Spundekäs with pretzels, hand cheese with music (with Harz cheese dressed in white wine and onions), Palatinate Worschsalat from the Fleischworscht marinated in vinegar, olive oil with cheese strips and Palatinate liver sausage, with hot spring cheese, mustard and pickles. If you are now wondering what source men are, we had to do that too. This is what boiled potatoes are called in Mainz.

Here we first encountered the hospitable nature of Mainz's hosts. Hostess Krista welcomed us and visited us again and again to tell us about the history of her wine bar. No wonder! Over time it had such illustrious guests as Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Secretary Hans-Dietrich Genscher. Their Wall of Fame is impressive.

 

 

Wilma Wunder

Markt 11
55116 Mainz
Tel. 06131 5401555

One of the Wilma Wunder branches is located on the market across from the cathedral. It is a chain of restaurants. But this one has it all. Here we eat in a cozy living room ambience. Under countless mirrors, photos and paintings on the walls, guests make themselves comfortable on sofas and bistro chairs. You take your time. Nobody is in a hurry here. We neither. Because we immediately feel at home in this restaurant.

The food does the rest. There is a colorful mix of Mainz specialties, great salads, comfort foods and tempting desserts, as well as homemade lemonades. The breakfast menu also looks enticing. Names like Apple Muesli, Blue Berries, Flowered Fig, Oat Dream or Berry Smoothie Bowl make my mouth water. Add one of the smoothies. Then you are ready to start your day.

However, we are here for lunch. Wilma Wunder again impressed us with great food. Petar chooses the Meenzer plate with the same Mainz specialties as the evening before. Only these are presented more imaginatively. Because it's so hot on this August day, I choose a salad. The Beetroot Avocado Tartare with Goat's Cheese turns out to be a true taste explosion. That doesn't surprise me with ingredients such as fig chutney, arugula, fresh apple slices, walnuts and balsamic cream.

 

 

 

 

Conclusion: Mainz sights appeal to all senses

Mainz and its sights have surprised us. Mainz, its attractions, its wines and restaurants and above all its people have impressed us. The city on the Rhine is a city for connoisseurs. There is much to discover in Mainz. No wonder in a city where history reaches back to the Romans. At the same time, however, Mainz is also a lively and young city. The university contributes a great deal to this with its student life. The mixture of old and new gives the old episcopal city a young and modern flair. We liked Mainz a lot. Perhaps our tips inspire you to a visit? Let us know in the comments how you like it.

 

Travel Arrangements:

Parking at the airport

Here you can reserve your parking space at the airport.

Arrival to the Mainz sights

Compare and book flights here*. The nearest airport is Frankfurt (about 20 minutes away). Those arriving by car can park their car in one of the multi-storey car parks in the old town. Mainz Wiesbaden is an environmental zone. Therefore, the vehicle should be approved for it.

Car Rentals:

Car rental price comparison for Germany *

Accommodation near Mainz attractions:

Hotels, apartments and other accommodation in Mainz * For example, you can book using this link.

Travel guide for the Mainz sights

On Amazon you can Travel Guide for Mainz * order online

If you purchase via a link marked *, we receive a commission, which we use to run this blog.

Other Slow Travel Tips is also available here.

 

 

Do you know this?

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• Where can you stay overnight in Germany with a motorhome?

 

 

Source: on-site research. We would definitely like to thank City Marketing Mainz. for the invitation to this pleasure journey. However, our opinion remains our own.

Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Video: © Copyright Petar Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline