Attractions and Places To See in Mainz - Top 20

With a total length of around 1,233 kilometers, the Rhine is one of the longest, most historically significant, and economically important rivers in Europe. The river originates in the Swiss Alps, where it is formed from the two headwaters, the Vorder- and Hinterrhein. After flowing through Lake Constance, it plunges down at the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen and then, as the High Rhine, forms the border between Switzerland and Germany. Further on, as the Upper Rhine, it flows through the Upper Rhine Plain past major cities such as Karlsruhe and Ludwigshafen, as well as directly past the region of Mainz and Wiesbaden. In this area, the river makes a sharp turn west at the so-called "Rhine Knee" (Rheinknie) before reaching the spectacular Middle Rhine. This section between Bingen and Koblenz – known as the Upper Middle Rhine Valley (Obere Mittelrheintal) – has been protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2002 due to its density of castles, historic vineyards, and the legend of the Loreley rock. Via the Lower Rhine (Niederrhein) and the metropolitan regions of Cologne and Düsseldorf, the Rhine finally continues into the Netherlands. There it divides into a widely branched delta and finally flows into the North Sea near Rotterdam. As an international waterway, the Rhine is the logistical backbone of Western Europe. It connects major industrial centers and seaports directly with the hinterland, and is used annually by tens of thousands of cargo ships for the transport of coal, ores, containers, and chemical goods. In addition to its industrial function, the Rhine Valley serves as a lifeline for tourism, as a rich source of energy through hydropower plants, and as a valuable natural and recreational area for millions of people.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodor-Heuss-Br%C3%BCcke_%28Mainz%E2%80%93Wiesbaden%29

The Mainz South Bridge (also known as the Mainz-South Railway Bridge, and at times as the Mainz-Gustavsburg Railway Bridge) is a railway bridge on the Mainz–Frankfurt railway line, spanning the Rhine at river kilometer 496.4 and connecting Mainz in Rhineland-Palatinate with Gustavsburg in Hesse. A footbridge attached to the north side of the bridge allows pedestrians and cyclists to cross the river.

Today's Theodor Heuss Bridge connects the Rhineland-Palatinate state capital Mainz with the Mainz-Kastel district of the Hessian state capital Wiesbaden across the Rhine.

The great bike paths are before and after this section, which is more or less a forest path. Something for gravel enthusiasts.

The most beautiful Rhine bridge in the region!

The market likely developed into the main trading center for all kinds of goods no later than 975, with the construction of the cathedral. Initially, the shops of wool and cloth merchants, as well as furriers, stood along the southern edge. On the north side were cookshops and bakeries. Over the centuries, agricultural products began to dominate the offerings. These were initially displayed in large baskets placed on the ground and only later on tables. The names Korbgasse (Basket Lane), Seilergasse (Ropemaker's Lane), and Fischergasse (Fisherman's Lane) testify to the fact that trading activity extended beyond the square into the immediate vicinity. In 1526, Elector Albrecht of Brandenburg had the market fountain rebuilt in the Renaissance style. In the 18th century, representative, but modest in size, Baroque houses replaced the earlier buildings in front of the cathedral. At the same time, the older row of buildings on the north side of the market also acquired a more festive character through several new constructions and renovations. Source and further information: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markt_(Mainz)

The column rises up in the middle of the market. The sandstone obelisk was brought from Miltenberg am Main to the Rhine in 1975 to mark the 1000th anniversary of the cathedral. This column has a bronze casing. It depicts an imperial crown, a fool's cap, a bishop's miter and a Roman legionnaire's helmet. The helmet conceals the head of a fox and 3 mice. Unfortunately, this monument is used as a place to sit and climb.