As early as 38 BC, Mogontiacum became the starting point of the Roman conquest of Germania. Roman city, free imperial city, residential city, industrial city, media city. "Golden Mainz" has undergone numerous transformations over the past centuries. All phases have left their mark.

Antiquity comes alive in a visit to the Roman-Germanic Central Museum or in the Museum of Ancient Shipping with its impressive reconstructions of Roman warships. A stroll through the old town will take you back to the Middle Ages. The Romanesque St. Martin's Cathedral and the Gothic St. Stephen's Church are impressive, as are the winding alleyways with their half-timbered houses and cozy wine taverns.

Despite severe war damage, many noble palaces from the Baroque period have been preserved and still characterize the cityscape. Among them is the Deutschhaus, today the seat of the Rhineland-Palatinate state parliament. Since Mainz became an important industrial location in the 19th century, it has been home to numerous companies of international standing. Today, Schott-Werke, one of the most important glass manufacturers in the world, is a symbol of cutting-edge technology from Mainz.

Carnival dominates public life at the beginning of each year. The numerous foolish guards and clubs organize an almost unbelievable variety of foolish meetings and parades. The highlight is the Rose Monday parade, in which the Mainz jesters like to take the mickey out of local and major politics.

The people of Mainz like to remember that printing with movable type was invented in their city in the 15th century. It was from the city on the Rhine that the inventor and entrepreneur Johannes Gutenberg set the first media revolution in motion. The Gutenberg Museum's collection reflects the development of book printing from its beginnings to the present day. However, Mainz owes its status as a media city primarily to radio and television. Mainz's Lerchenberg is home to ZDF, the largest television station in Europe.