St. Stephan, Mainz, known locally as St. Stephan zu Mainz is a collegiate church and has the oldest Gothic hall in the district of Upper Rhine. The church's history dates back to 990 CE when it was originally built. Over the centuries, the church has seen a lot of changes and rebuilding. It is famed for its unique blue Chagall choir windows created by renowned Russian Jewish artist Marc Chagall between 1978 - 1985. The nine stained glasses depict scenes from the Old Testament highlighting the common Christian and Jewish traditions and are done in luminescent blue. The church is also one of Mainz's important churches.
The Mainz Cathedral is an architectural and historical marvel that is a must-visit while in the city. Known by different names like Martinsdom and more popularly St. Martin's Cathedral, it is situated close to the old town and serves as one of the major landmarks of Mainz. With a history going back to over a thousand years, this Roman Catholic monument exhibits an array of architectural styles. However, it remains a fine example of Romanesque architecture, even though it received several designs and structural alterations over the centuries. The cathedral interiors are home to ornate plaques and tombs of erstwhile reigning Electoral-prince-archbishops. Several arresting turn-of-the-century religious artworks adorn its high walls. The statues of The Madonna and Saint Boniface are focal points of its sprawling grounds.
The beautiful Landesmuseum Mainz attracts a number of visitors each year with its unique collection of art and craft. Exhibits include paintings and sculpture through the centuries that throw light on the history and culture of Mainz. Also known as the Mainz State Museum, a visit to this popular attractions will help your learn about the culture and history of Mainz.
The Gutenberg Museum in Mainz marks the birth of printing as it is known today. Exhibits of the museum include several artifacts and exhibits that have been relevant to the printing industry. Of its most noted exhibits is the second Gutenberg bible. Apart from that, the museum's acquisition also includes two block books that were printed using wooden formes, something which is rare today. Moreover, some of the Gutenberg Museum's exhibitions are Printed Graphics, Small Presses and The Bookplate Collection.
Stretching to an area of 75,000 square meters (807293 square feet), the Kurpark in Wiesbaden is a spectacular public park that has been praised by many as the most scenic park in the city. Established in 1852, the park boasts of a lake in the middle of the park where visitors can enjoy boating. Also found here is a fountain that is 6 meters (19 feet) high.
This beautiful Art Nouveau building is not only a cultural hub but also a popular convention center in the city. Dating back to 1907, Kurhaus Wiesbaden has played host to various national and international events such as concerts, recitals and conferences. The elegant premise consists of various spaces that are befitting for special occasions as well. Also found inside are the Wiesbaden Casino and a restaurant.
In the Middle Ages, this steep-roofed Gothic building was the center of Frankfurt's rag trade and was the place where cloth was stored, weighed and measured. At the outer wall you can still see the measuring cylinder used at the time, known as the Frankfurter Elle. The two-story house was built towards the end of the 14th Century, reputedly by the famous architect Madern Gerthener. After destruction during World War II, it was rebuilt in 1980 and now hosts an art gallery (the Kommunale Galerie) which shows rotating exhibitions by contemporary artists.
St. Martin is a catholic parish church in Lorch am Rhein that is known for its beautiful Gothic altar, a masterpiece by famed German artist Hans von Worms circa 1483. The church's massive tower overlooks the wine and culture rich city. Another unique feature is in a part of the organ called the 'Riesling-register' which once pressed makes chirping sounds of birds and opens the hidden door behind the two bottles places in the Riesling and reveals two wine glasses.
In the 14th Century, a rich Frankfurt patrician erected a chapel next to the city walls. The chapel was later extended into a Gothic hall with a bell tower called Liebfrauenkirche. During the 18th Century, the inside of the church received ornate rococo fittings, and during the 19th Century, the Three Kings portal was given a vestibule. After severe damage in the War, the whole place was rebuilt in 1954. A wooden roof has now replaced the Gothic original, and from the original interior, only the figures on the altar remain.
Founded by Balthasar Ress, Weingut Balthasar Ress spreads over a vast green landscape of 35 hectares of grape-rich land(86486 acres). A member of the German Wine Estates(VDP) it is located in the idyllic town of Eltville. This five generation winery, produces wines of the highest caliber which are planted with Riesling and even Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc. You may also find Vintage wines from the 19th century in the Weingut Balthasar Ress storehouse.
Every city is different and to experience the uniqueness of Frankfurt, you ought to do the Frankfurt on Foot Walking Tours. This tour will guide you through some of the best and major locations in the city explaining their importance and their origins. There are various tours on offer as per different themes. Their informative guides will help you understand every aspect of this city and get you acquainted with all the information that you need to soon feel more like a local and less like a tourist. The tour walks you through landmarks like Roemer, Alte Nikolai Church, Medieval Jewish Cemetery, The Goethe House, and Jewish Holocaust Memorial Wall. The guides all speak English as a first language, making this the perfect tour for English-speaking tourists.
Before 1933, Frankfurt boasted of the second largest Jewish community in Germany after Berlin. The Jewish Museum in the Rothschildpalais provides visitors with an overview of Jewish culture and an insight into the development of the Jewish community from the 12th Century onwards. A replica of Frankfurt's Judengasse (Jewish Alley) in the Middle Ages gives visitors an idea of what life in the Jewish ghetto used to be like. The exhibition also explores recent history with a wall containing the names of the Jews who were deported and murdered during the 1930s and 1940s.