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Situated between the Rhine and Neckar Rivers, near their confluence, Mannheim has an energetic cultural scene and decent shopping in its busy city centre, along with a landmark palace, the Barockschloss Mannheim.
The city's surrounding factories and heavy industry plants (automotive, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, engineering, agricultural and construction machinery) mean this isn't Germany at its prettiest, but they are a reminder of the drivers of the German economy.
Two important transportation firsts took place in Mannheim: Karl Drais created the world’s first bicycle in 1817, and Karl Benz built the world’s first automobile to combine an internal combustion engine and integrated chassis in 1885; the three-wheeled vehicle was patented in 1886.
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Mannheim.
Palace
Mannheim’s most famous sight is the yellow and red sandstone Schloss, Germany’s largest baroque palace. Now occupied by the University of Mannheim, the 450m-long structure was built over the course of 40 years in the mid-1700s but was almost completely destroyed during WWII. Off the main courtyard are the Schloss Museum (included in your ticket) and the baroque Schlosskirche.
Museum
Mannheim's premier gallery is a vast repository of modern and contemporary art by masters such as Cézanne, Degas, Manet, Kandinsky and Rodin. The permanent collection has often been stored away to make space for blockbuster exhibitions, but that will change with the opening of a new €70 million metal-encased, glass-roofed, 16,000-sq-metre exhibition space. It's due to open in late 2018; check with the tourist office for updates.
Church
A sumptuously ornate baroque vision, glowing with gold leaf, the Jesuitenkirche was built between 1733 and 1760. When Mozart spent time in Mannheim in the late 1700s, he praised its acoustics and atmosphere. Like the rest of the city, the church suffered damage during WWII, but it has since been fully restored.
Park
Five blocks northeast of the Hauptbahnhof, Friedrichsplatz is an oasis of manicured lawns, lovely flower beds and art-nouveau fountains. Its centrepiece is the 60m-high Wasserturm (Water Tower), a bit of 19th-century civil architecture that has become one of the city’s symbols. An elegant ensemble of red sandstone edifices, many with arcades, lines the perimeter.
Church
Across the main courtyard of the Barockschloss Mannheim stands the baroque Schlosskirche, built from 1720 to 1731 and rebuilt after the war. Mozart performed here in 1777. It belongs to the Alt-Katholiken (Old Catholics), a movement that split with Rome over papal infallibility in the 1870s and is now part of the Anglican Communion.