Top Mainz Arts & Design in 2026

Mainz is where Romans built theatres and fortresses, archbishops wielded power, and Gutenberg revolutionized information with the printing press. On this self-guided walking tour through the medieval old town, you’ll hear all about the Holy Roman Empire’s power, Napoleon’s ambitions, and a remarkable Jewish artist’s gift of reconciliation. The tour begins at the magnificent 1,000-year-old St. Martin’s Cathedral, a powerful symbol of Mainz’s religious importance as the Rome of the North. You'll wander past Heunensäule (Haystack Pillar) in Marktplatz, and through cobblestone squares and narrow alleys to discover vibrant wine houses and meticulously preserved half-timbered buildings. You'll see the city’s impressive hilltop Citadel, and the ruins of the largest Roman amphitheater north of the Alps before the tour concludes on Augustinerstrasse, Mainz’s popular shopping street, where you can easily return to the Old Town or stop for a glass of local Rheinhessen wine.