Mainz
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Cultural Experience,
Walking/Hiking,
Town / City
Mainz is a lively locale thanks to its sizable university, a large media presence and a certain savoir-vivre whose origins go back to Napoleon’s occupation (1798 – 1814). Strolling along the Rhine and sampling local wines in a half-timbered Altstadt (old town) tavern are as much a part of any Mainz visit as viewing the fabulous Dom, Chagall’s ethereal windows in the St-Stephan-Kirche (St. Stephen's Church) or the first printed Bibles in the Gutenberg Museum.
The Romans were the first to take advantage of Mainz' strategic location at the confluence of the Main and Rhine Rivers. In 12 BC, under Emperor Augustus, they founded a military camp called Moguntiacum as a base for the invasion of Germania. After the Romans, Mainz took a 250 year nap before being awoken by English missionary St. Boniface, who established an archbishopric here in 746 AD. In the 15th century, native son Johannes Gutenberg ushered in the information age by perfecting moveable type.
Latest Reviews
Review by Yaramah Z, October 2012
Doing what: KD Rhine Pass from Mainz
It was a great trip. The views were spectacular and there were plenty of castles to see. We stopped at Bacharach and had a very fine lunch. The town was like something out of the 17th century. It was the highlight of my European trip. Very much recommended.
Review by Terrie N, October 2012
Doing what: KD Rhine Pass from Mainz
The trip was awesome. I have never seen so many castles! The staff was accomodating and food was good. Made some new friends and would definately recommend it.
Would like to recommend that you advertise that the best seats can be reserved. All of the window seats in the front of the boat were reserved. I didn't know that was an option. We arrived early to get good seats. Fortunately the weather was not so bad that we spent most of our time on top deck.
Review by Daniel C, USA, September 2012
Doing what: KD Rhine Pass from Mainz
Our Rhine cruise on the K-D Lorelei boat departed Mainz at 8:45 am . Our voucher had to be exchanged for tickets at the ticket office-which was at the boat dock.
We cruised from Mainz to Koblenz--where the Rhine and Mosel Rivers meet (arrival 2pm).
Visited the Ludwig Museum and the King Wilhelm statue--We returned to Mainz by train-arrival around 4:30pm.
The cruise was excellent--There was some English narration of what you were viewing from the boat.
The breakfast on the boat was very good--
Practical Info
There are regular trains from Frankfurt to Mainz.
