Historic places in Mainz

Historic places in Mainz

1. See

   Altstadt

   Old town

   Characterized by its well-preserved half-timbered houses and narrow, winding alleyways. This area serves as the atmospheric heart of the city, blending medieval architecture with vibrant local shops, traditional wine taverns, and historic landmarks like the Augustinerkirche.

2. See

   Augustinerkirche

   A prominent example of Rococo architecture, featuring a distinctive red sandstone façade that contrasts with the surrounding buildings. It was built in the late 18th century as part of an Augustinian monastery, and is one of the few churches in the Mainz Old Town to survive the bombings of 1945 largely intact, preserving its ornate interior and a rare original Stumm organ.

   Mon-Fri 08:00-17:00, Sat 09:00-14:00

3. See

   Christuskirche

   Christ Church

   Built between 1896 and 1903 in Renaissance Revival style, this Protestant church features a massive dome designed as a counterbalance to the Catholic cathedral. Guided tours, including the tower, are available by appointment, though tower access is closed from March to mid-August to protect nesting peregrine falcons. The church offers a special visitor program on the Open Heritage Day (Tag des offenen Denkmals), held annually on the second Sunday of September.

   Sat-Thu 11:00-17:00, Fri 12:00-18:00

4. See

   Deutschhaus

   Commandry of the Teutonic Knights

   This Baroque palace was built between 1729 and 1740 as a residence for the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights. After being largely destroyed during World War II, the exterior was reconstructed, and the interior was modernised to serve as the plenary building for the Landtag (state parliament) of Rhineland-Palatinate. It is historically significant as the site of Germany's first democratically elected parliament in 1793.

5. See

   Dom St. Martin

   Mainz Cathedral

   A 1,000-year-old Romanesque cathedral featuring a double-chancel design and numerous funerary monuments of former Prince-Electors. The interior and the associated cathedral museum house religious artworks spanning a millennium of the city's history. Public tours are held on the last Saturday of each month (registration via [email protected]).

   Mon-Sat 09:00-17:00, Sun 13:00-17:00

6. See

   Kurfürstliches Schloss

   Electoral Palace

   The former city residence of the Archbishops of Mainz, this building is a notable example of German Renaissance architecture. Following extensive destruction during World War II, the exterior was reconstructed. While the palace is primarily an administrative and event venue and not open for general public interior tours, its historic façade and the surrounding grounds are visible from the outside.

7. See

   Landesmuseum

   State Museum Mainz

   The Department of Antiquities traces the cultural history of the Rhineland from prehistory to the present.

8. See

   Museum für Antike Schifffahrt

   Museum of Ancient Navigation

   Unique to Mainz is this museum, which contains the remains of five 5th-century Roman warship wrecks salvaged from the Rhine in the 1980s. True-to-life replicas were re-constructed based on these originals. Visitors also have the opportunity to glimpse behind the scenes in the research laboratory and in the museum’s workshops. These ships were found when the local Hilton was expanding its property.

   closed until late autumn 2026·Free

9. See

   Old Jewish Cemetery

   Part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "SchUM Cities of Speyer, Worms and Mainz," this cemetery has served as a final resting place since the 10th century. For safety reasons, the interior of the historic burial ground is generally closed to the public. However, the site is visually accessible from along the perimeter fence, and the lower section offers an overview of the gravestones. Guided tours providing deeper insight into its history are available and must be booked in advance via the official city website.

10. See

    Sankt Ignaz

    Completed in 1775, this Neoclassical hall church features an impressive sandstone facade modelled after the Parisian church of Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais. It is notable for its vaulted ceilings painted by Johann Baptist Enderle and a historic crypt containing over 190 "baker's oven" graves.

11. See

    Schillerplatz

    One of the city's central squares, this location features an ensemble of historic buildings, such as the rococo-style Osteiner Hof and the Schönborner Hof. The square is dominated by the Fastnachtsbrunnen, a bronze sculptural fountain designed by Blasius Spreng in 1967 that depicts traditional carnival figures and allegorical scenes. It serves as a major social hub, particularly during the carnival season, and is a key starting point for exploring the historic streets of the Old Town.

12. See

    Bischöfliches Dom-und Diözesanmuseum Mainz

    Cathedral museum & treasury, church art.

13. Eat

    Indian Palace

    Excellent Indian restaurant

14. See

    Naturhistorisches Museum

    Museum of Natural History

    Reichklarastraße 10

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Mainz (CC BY-SA 4.0).