Things to do in Mainz
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Eisgrubbräu
Grab a seat in this down-to-earth microbrewery's warren of vaulted chambers, order a mug of Dunkel (dark) or Hell (light) - or even a 3L/5L Bierturm (beer tower; €17.90/28.40) - and settle in for people watching. The Monday-to-Friday lunch (€5.90) - an all-you-can-eat buffet from October to March - and the daily breakfast buffet (€6.90; available 9am to noon) offer good value.
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Dom
Mainz' famed cathedral, entered from the Marktplatz, is one of Germany's most magnificent houses of worship. The focal point of the Altstadt, this richly detailed 'mountain' of reddish sandstone, topped by an octagonal tower, went through a literal 'baptism by fire' when the original burned down just one day before its consecration in 1066. Most of what you see today is quintessential 12th-century Romanesque.
Inside, a solemn ambience pervades the nave which, surprisingly, has a choir at each end. The grandiose, wall-mounted memorial tombstones form a veritable portrait gallery of archbishops and other 13th- to 18th-century power mongers, many portrayed alongside their pr…
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Landesmuseum Mainz
The rich and far-reaching collection of the Landesmuseum Mainz, housed in the former prince-elector's stables, traces the region's cultural history from the Stone Age to the present. Treasures include the richly festooned facade of the Kaufhaus am Brand, a 14th-century trading house, and the famous Jupitersäule (on display again in 2010), a Roman triumphal column from the 1st century. Also of special interest are Dutch and Flemish paintings, faience and art-nouveau glass.
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Dom St Martin cathedral
Mainz' famed cathedral, is one of Germany's most magnificent houses of worship. The focal point of the Altstadt, this richly detailed mountain of reddish sandstone, topped by an octagonal tower, went through a literal baptism by fire when the original burned down on the day of its consecration in 1009, an event whose millennium was marked in 2009. Much of what you see today is quintessential 12th-century Romanesque. Over the centuries seven coronations were held here.
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Druckladen
In the Gutenberg museum's Druckladen, across tiny Seilergasse, you can try out Gutenberg's technology yourself - on the condition that you're at least five years old. You'll be issued with a smock (the unique odour of printers' ink may, for many, conjure up the nobility of making the written word available to the masses, but the gloop is hell to get out of fabric) and instructed in the art of hand-setting type - backwards, of course.
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Gutenberg Museum
A heady experience for anyone excited by books, the Gutenberg Museum takes a panoramic look at the technology that made the world as we know it - including this guidebook - possible. Highlights include medieval manuscripts and early printed masterpieces - kept safe in a vault - such as Gutenberg's original 42-line Bible. Many of the signs are in English; a quarter-hour film is available in seven languages.
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KD Rhine Pass from Mainz
1 Day (Departs Mainz, Germany)
by Viator
An easy way to start your romantic day on the Rhine: Present your KD ticket onboard any KD ship and enjoy all scheduled day cruises on the Rhine and Moselle riv…Not LP reviewed
from USD$37.62 -
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Weinstube Hottum
One of the best of the Altstadt wine taverns, Hottum has a cosy, traditional atmosphere, delectable wines and a menu - half of which appears on a tiny slate tablet - with regional dishes such as Saumagen (pig's stomach stuffed with meat, potatoes and spices, then boiled, sliced and briefly fried) and Winzersteak (vintner-style pork steak).
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Dom- und Diözesanmuseum
Dom- und Diözesanmuseum displays artwork from the Dom St Martin cathedral, including sculptures from the rood screen (1239) - the work of the renowned Master of Naumburg - that portray the saved and the, well, not-so-saved. The new Oberer Kreuzgang (Upper Cloister) showcases religious art from the late Middle Ages.
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Specht
Thanks to its ancient wood beams, smoked walls and Fastnacht (carnival) medals, 'Woodpecker' has a 19th-century feel, though the building itself dates from 1557. It serves German and regional cuisine made with fresh products from the nearby market. If the ancient beam ceiling doesn't look uneven and wavy, you've had too much to drink.
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St-Stephan-Kirche
St-Stephan-Kirche is a Gothic church rebuilt after WWII were it not for the nine brilliant, stained-glass windows created by the Russian-Jewish artist Marc Chagall (1887-1985) in the final years of his life. Bright blue and imbued with a mystical, meditative quality, they serve as a symbol of Jewish-Christian reconciliation.
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Zur Kanzel
A classy place with a distinctly French flair and a nice courtyard, this Weinstube (wine bar) serves upmarket French and regional cuisine, including dishes made with grüne Sosse (light sauce made with fresh herbs, sour cream and soft white cheese). All ingredients are fresh, so the menu evolves with the seasons.
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Museum für Antike Schiffahrt
In 1981 excavations for a hotel unearthed the remains of five spectacular wooden ships of the Romans' Rhine flotilla, used around AD 300 to thwart Germanic tribes trying to intrude upon Roman settlements. They are now on display, along with two full-size replicas, in the Museum für Antike Schiffahrt.
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KuZ
Dance parties, live concerts, a summer beer garden with alfresco movie screenings, a world-music summer festival, kids' theatre…the happening Kulturzentrum (cultural centre) has something for everyone. It's housed in a neat red-brick building that began life in the 19th century as a military laundry.
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Irish Pub
A candle-lit basement watering hole - Irish owned and staffed - with karaoke on Monday and Thursday, solo musicians Tuesday and Wednesday, bands on Friday and Saturday and an open-mike night on Sunday (all from 9.30pm). Attracts a very international crowd, including US soldiers from Wiesbaden.
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Augustinerkirche
The classically baroque Augustinerkirche, built in 1768, features an elaborate organ loft and a delicate ceiling fresco by Johann Baptist Enderle. Unlike so many churches in Germany, it has never been destroyed.
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Gewölbehallen
The Gewölbehallen has artwork from the Dom, including sculptures from the rood screen (1239) - the work of the renowned Master of Naumburg - that portray the saved and the, well, not-so-saved.
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Mainzer Radverleih
Mainzer Radverleih, on the road bridge level of the round tower atop the CityPort Parkhaus (near the Hauptbahnhof), hires out bikes and sells cycling maps.
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Heiliggeist
Sit beneath the soaring Gothic vaults of a 15th-century hospital and enjoy a drink, snack or full meal from a menu filled with Italian-inspired creations.
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Schatzkammer
In the Schatzkammer, you can see bejewelled ritual objects from as far back as the 10th century (English-language pamphlet available).
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St Peterskirche
St Peterskirche shows off the sumptuous glory of the rococo style and is noted for its richly adorned pulpit and altars.
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Frankfurter Hof
This hugely popular performance venue hosts everyone from up-and-coming artists to big-name acts such as Simply Red and Carlos Santana.
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Staatstheater
Mainz' city theatre stages plays, opera and ballet. Students get significant discounts.
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St-Ignatius-Kirche
St-Ignatius-Kirche marks the transition from rococo to neoclassicism.
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