Mainz from WW, the winter harbor for housing construction - Dreikönigshof, Kupferbergterrassen and Baertschsiedlung

'Winterhafen' - winter harbor, Roman Theater, Upper Town, Kupferberg Terrace

Mainz from H-H, from the winter Harbor to Housing projects - Dreikönigshof, Kupferberterrassen and Baertschsiedlung

Suggestion for an architectural tour for first-time visitors to Mainz who are interested in architecture and would like to see the highlights.

The Roman metropolis of Mongontiacum and its remains will be seen repeatedly in the first part of the architectural tour. The second part is dominated by various housing projects, each dealing with the theme of urbanity in its own way. It is up to you which direction you choose for the architectural tour. The Mainz tours by ZZ and Mainz by WW can also be seen as suggestions and can be individually varied and combined.

In the suggested direction, the architectural tour begins at the Winterhafen, a former commercial port that has been converted into a residential area. Nearby is the Museum of Ancient Shipping, where a Roman ship found in the Rhine can be viewed. We then begin the ascent, seeing the tunnels of the railway line that was relocated from the banks of the Rhine to this location. The former 'Mainz Süd' train station is now called the 'Roman Theater', as the trains now almost roll over the stage of this ancient theater. On the architectural tour, we pass the fortress and reach St. Stephan's Church. Here, the Chagall windows are a tourist attraction and new school buildings are a destination for those interested in architecture. After crossing the steepest tram tracks in Germany, we come to the Dreikönigshof housing project designed by Swiss architects. The apartments here are oriented towards a series of courtyards (although without a king). A little further on the architectural tour we reach the housing development in Kästrich, from where the Kupferberg terrace offers a beautiful view over the city and the Taunus. Behind the train station, looking at the narrow, steeply winding Baentschstrasse, you feel as if you have landed in another mountainous city. The street, or rather alley, opens up this peculiar housing densification project from the beginning of the 20th century.

  • Duration: from 3 hours architectural tour
  • Getting around: on foot
  • Services: Architect or architectural historian as a guide, choice of meeting point, the exact course of the tour and desired breaks
  • Languages: German, English, Italian

project selection

Winter harbor - 'Winterhafen'

  • Malakoff Terrace (Realgrün Landschaftsarchitekten)
  • Archaeological Center Mainz (Schröllkamp Architektur / Bernhardt + Partner)

Roman theater / citadel

  • Mainz train station 'Römisches Theater' (Roman theater) (Dr. Sever Severain)
  • Citadel (mann + schneberger)

Upper Town

  • Pfarrheim St Stephan and Willigis-Gymnasium (AV1 Architects)
  • St Stephan with Chagall windows
  • Dreikönigshof (Atelier 5)
  • Kupferbergterrassen - Kästrich district

Train station and surroundings

  • Central station (including gmp, Fini Produktions Architekten)
  • Housing estate
Winter harbor - 'Winterhafen'
St Stephan - Citadel - Roman Theater
Dreikönigshof
Kästrich city quarter with a view