You will set off on foot from accompanied by your guides and visit the town of Mainz. Capital of the Rhine Palatinate, Mainz was founded more than 2000 years ago by the Romans. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the top architects and sculptors created the basic shape of the town, with fine palaces and churches. Here you can admire the magnificent historic houses which have been outstandingly well-restored. Located on the banks of the Rhine opposite the confluence of the Rhine with the Main, Mainz will captivate you with its quite incomparable lifestyle, its unique charm and its openness to the world. In the company of your guide, you will be able to enter the magnificent Cathedral, whose construction began in 975 and which has left a deep mark on the history of the town. The interior of the cathedral houses some wonderful historic treasures, including tombs and funerary monuments from the 13th to the 18th centuries. You will also have the opportunity to wander up and down the colorful streets in the old town. Finally you will visit the Gutenberg Museum, the world's finest museum for printing equipment, materials and books. Born in Mainz around 1400, Johannes Gensfleisch Gutenberg himself prepared the copy of the Bible referred to as "the 42-line Bible” which was published in 1455 - the oldest printed book in the world. Out of the 46 copies still in existence, the museum has just one, along with a "Mainz Psalter”, the first ever document printed using three different colors of ink. The museum extends over five floors and provides a quite remarkable exhibition on the history of the book and written word in both Europe and the world as a whole. Set off by coach to re-join the boat at Worms.
PLEASE NOTE
- Good walking shoes are recommended: the tour is on foot and the streets in the old town are cobblestoned.
- The Gutenberg Museum is closed on Sunday mornings and on Mondays.
- The ship sails during the excursion.
- The order of the visits can change.
- Times are approximate.
You will set off on foot from accompanied by your guides and visit the town of Mainz. Capital of the Rhine Palatinate, Mainz was founded more than 2000 years ago by the Romans. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the top architects and sculptors created the basic shape of the town, with fine palaces and churches. Here you can admire the magnificent historic houses which have been outstandingly well-restored. Located on the banks of the Rhine opposite the confluence of the Rhine with the Main, Mainz will captivate you with its quite incomparable lifestyle, its unique charm and its openness to the world. In the company of your guide, you will be able to enter the magnificent Cathedral, whose construction began in 975 and which has left a deep mark on the history of the town. The interior of the cathedral houses some wonderful historic treasures, including tombs and funerary monuments from the 13th to the 18th centuries. You will also have the opportunity to wander up and down the colorful streets in the old town. Finally you will visit the Gutenberg Museum, the world's finest museum for printing equipment, materials and books. Born in Mainz around 1400, Johannes Gensfleisch Gutenberg himself prepared the copy of the Bible referred to as "the 42-line Bible” which was published in 1455 - the oldest printed book in the world. Out of the 46 copies still in existence, the museum has just one, along with a "Mainz Psalter”, the first ever document printed using three different colors of ink. The museum extends over five floors and provides a quite remarkable exhibition on the history of the book and written word in both Europe and the world as a whole. Set off by coach to re-join the boat at Worms.
PLEASE NOTE
- Good walking shoes are recommended: the tour is on foot and the streets in the old town are cobblestoned.
- The Gutenberg Museum is closed on Sunday mornings and on Mondays.
- The ship sails during the excursion.
- The order of the visits can change.
- Times are approximate.
Cruises
This shore excursion is available for one or several cruises
From Basel to Amsterdam : The Treasures of the Celebrated Rhine River (port-to-port cruise)
BASEL - BREISACH - STRASBOURG - MAINZ - KOBLENZ - COLOGNE - DÜSSELDORF - AMSTERDAM
From Basel to Amsterdam, embark on a cruise rich in history and authenticity. Admire the beauty of the Rhine Falls before discovering historic monuments through cities such as Haarlem or Colmar and its Unterlinden museum. You can take a stroll to the Arnhem Open Air Museum, which reveals a 100-year-old story.
From Amsterdam to Basel: The Treasures of the Celebrated Rhine River (port-to-port cruise)
AMSTERDAM - NIJMEGEN - COLOGNE - KOBLENZ - MAINZ - STRASBOURG - BREISACH - BASEL
From Amsterdam to Basel, embark on a cruise rich in history and authenticity. Discover historic monuments through cities such as Haarlem or Colmar and its Unterlinden museum. You can take a stroll to the Arnhem Open Air Museum, which reveals a 100-year-old story.
The romantic Rhine Valley and the rock of the Lorelei (port-to-port cruise)
STRASBOURG - RUDESHEIM - KOBLENZ - MAINZ - RASTATT - STRASBOURG
Embark on a cruise on the Rhine between Alsace and Germany through an incredible diversity of landscapes, cultures, and stories. Dive into the heart of an authentic terroir rich in discoveries.
Rhine in Flames in Sankt Goarshausen - Magical Fireworks over the Water (port-to-port cruise)
STRASBOURG - RUDESHEIM - The romantic Rhine - KOBLENZ - ST GOARSHAUSEN - MAINZ - STRASBOURG
Don't miss fireworks blazing over a medieval setting in the Rhine Valley! You'll have front-row seats for the phenomenal colorful display. A multitude of ships dressed to the nines will crisscross the river during this legendary event. As a backdrop, the Katz and Rheinfels Castles lit in green and red reflect in the Rhine water, while the spectacular fireworks and flares light up the darkness of this spellbinding night known as Rhine in Flames. An unforgettable experience! The itinerary we offer provides a great time to discover or even rediscover must-see sites such as the famous Drosselgasse in Rüdesheim and the intriguing Gutenberg Museum in Mainz. This vacation is jam-packed with fairytale-like landscapes, impressive hills dotted with charming vineyards, and castle ruins sitting above at every turn.