Mainz Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Mainz

Mainz is the Rhineland-Palatinate state capital and its largest city. It is located on the Rhine river, where the Main river joins the Rhine. Mainz has remained a prosperous city and is an important container port hub.

Mainz was founded as a Roman military fortress in the 1st century BC. The Roman stronghold was called Mogontiacum. Visitors can see several Roman shipwrecks and learn more about Roman military ships at the Museum of Ancient Shipbuilding.

During the 8th century AD, Mainz became a vital part of the Holy Roman Empire. Mainz was an important center for early Christianity, and the Mainz Cathedral is over 1,000 years old. St. Stephen’s Church is the area’s oldest Gothic hall church.

Mainz's location on the Rhine and in the center of the Holy Roman Empire made it a vital port and city. It became part of the Grand Duchy of Hesse, which wanted more fortifications for this strategic location. Visitors can see the Wooden Tower, which was built in the 15th century as part of the city’s walls. The Citadel is another vital part of the city’s fortifications and dates to the 1600s.

French and Prussian troops occupied Mainz in the 1790s. Napoleon Bonaparte’s French army occupied Mainz and claimed it for France until they were defeated in 1814. Mainz was a neutral zone during the Austro-Prussian War in 1866 and became part of the German Empire in 1871.

The National Socialist (Nazi) Party established a base in Mainz in the 1930s, and Mainz suffered significant damage from World War II bombs.

Visitors can travel back in time by visiting the Cherry Orchard. This historic square features classic half-timbered homes, one of which dates to the 1500s. Market Square is home to some of the city’s oldest and most important buildings and has hosted markets for over a thousand years.

Johannes Gutenberg, the famous printing press inventor, was born in Mainz and printed the famous Gutenberg Bible in Mainz in 1450. Mainz has several monuments and landmarks dedicated to its most influential citizen. Visitors can learn more about Gutenberg’s life, see an original Gutenberg Bible, and view a recreated printing press at the Gutenberg Museum.

Take this self-guided tour to explore the most notable sights of Mainz.