Mannheim, history and activities to do to discover the German city on a low cost trip. Events, museums and free activities not to be missed for a journey to discover the truest Germany.
Mannheim is a university city and cultural center of considerable importance for the region of Baden Württemberg. The presence of the university means that the city is frequented by many young people and the possibilities for entertainment and recreation are varied. Students have many benefits: discounts on admissions to museums / cinemas etc. Also for the transport there are reductions: for example by making a semesterticket (Semesterticket) you can use all public transport in the city and those that connect the entire Rhein-Neckar area.
Of course, of all German cities, Mannheim is not the most touristy due to its massive industrialization. At the point where the Neckar River flows into the Rhine stands one of the largest inland ports in Europe and the area around it has become a major hub for the chemical and pharmaceutical sector.
I lived in Mannheim for a whole year and over time I learned to appreciate it because life here is really within man's reach: it's a big city but not too much. You can easily get around without a car as the means of transport are efficient and connect every corner of the city. So here are my tips on what to see and what to do if you pass by here.
Photo Thomas Troester
The Square
Mannheim is also known as Quadratestadt or the city square because of its floor plan. The center, in fact, develops just like a chessboard. Thanks to this peculiarity, getting around is really easy, even for those who have no sense of direction. Another uniqueness is the alphanumeric numbering system of the units within the square. The castle is the starting point from which the numbering starts: it seems to play naval battle (for example I lived in R7,40).
Baroque Castle
Here is the epicenter of my year in Germany where I spent most of my time. The castle became the seat of the university and studying here has its charm. The majestic Baroque-style palace dates back to 1720. Unfortunately, during the Second World War, it suffered extensive damage due to bombing. What we see today is obviously a reconstruction, but in any case of considerable architectural impact.
The central part of the building houses the university library and the museum inaugurated in 2007. Visitors can visit the interior of the building, among which the beautiful Knight hall (room of the knights), a sumptuous room with frescoes and splendid chandeliers. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 to 17, the entrance price is € 7 with audio guide.
Wasserturm and Friedrichsplatz
It is only a 10 minute walk from the station and 15/20 minutes from the castle. Located at the top of Friedrichsplatz it is definitely a must. water tower (aka the water tower) is the symbol par excellence of the city and also one of my favorite places. The tower is 60 meters high and originally served as a reservoir for the supply of drinking water.
La square behind the tower is magnificent, it is not just a square but a real liberty style garden. In the center there is one cascading fountain which flows into a huge central pool where you can watch plays of water and light. You can walk under the galleries of flowering plants, sit on a bench and relax watching the magic of the water jets. Wasserturm is a very important meeting point for the city. In winter the traditional Christmas market is set up, while in summer there are musical events and other outdoor events.
Some buildings of particular architectural and cultural importance, such as the Kunsthalle (museum of modern and contemporary art) and the Rosengarten (congress center / auditorium).
Parade Platz
Parade Platz it is the center of the square and can be reached in a few minutes on foot both from the main entrance of the castle and from Wasserturm via Planken, the shopping street. The main square, used by many as a meeting point, has a rectangular shape in the center of which stands an imposing fountain, the work of Flemish sculptor Gabriel Grupello depicting the allegory of the Triumph of Virtue and the unveiling of truth.
If after a day of shopping you want to take a break, the right address is Turmcafe & cocktailbar Stars located on the glass tower above the bio shopping center. The elevator will go up to the bar from which you have one fantastic overview all over the city.
Markplatz
Just beyond Parade Platz, there is another rectangular square overlooked by the old town hall and the church Untere Pfarrkirche. Marktplazt, or the market square, as the name suggests is the place where a colorful market is set up. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 8 to 14 fruit, vegetables and flowers are the main protagonists of this square.
Jesuiten Kirchen
Always in the square in A4 you can visit the Jesuit church in baroque style. Even Mozart he was fascinated by this church for its atmosphere and extraordinary acoustics. The interior of the church is very bright and the predominant shades are the green and red of the marbles.
Luisenpark
And the citizen lung where to spend a pleasant break walking in the green, but not only. To say that it is a park is an understatement. It is a small biosphere as within it there are a small zoo, the aquarium butterfly house and a botanical garden. The Chinese area with the tea house is also very nice. In addition there is also a small lake where it is possible to take a ride with the gondolette. The best time to visit is spring when the trees are all in bloom. From March to October the park is open every day from 9 to 21. Students and children enter with a reduced ticket.
Rhine promenade
Behind the university there is a park that reaches the banks of the Rhine river. This part of the city is mainly used during the summer for long walks, for sunbathing or for making grills. One can also simply sit and observe the continuous passage of huge barges carrying containers of all kinds. For those who love running, cycling or rollerblading this is the ideal place because there is a long cycle path along the river.
Museums
I museums in Mannheim they are numerous and very avant-garde, also offering pedagogical programs. The main ones are the Technoseum dedicated to technique and the Kunsthalle art museum. The Technoseum is a very interactive museum for technique and work that illustrates the industrialization process and traces the industrial history of southwestern Germany.
The Kunsthalle art museum exhibits works of French and German Impressionism, New Objectivity and Expressionism.
On the banks of the Neckar River you can visit the museum ship. To remember also the Planetarium and Reiss-Engelhorn Museum which collects archaeological finds from the ancient world and the cultures of the world, passing through the history of art, theater, music and photography.
Skatenight Mannheim
In summer in Mannheim special evenings are organized for lovers of inline skates. Participation is free. It should be emphasized that it is not a competition, but a meeting point for all those who want to skate on the streets of the city. The meeting is on Wednesday (every 15 days) at 19 pm in front of the Engelhorn Sport shop. The route varies from 24 to 32 km. There are always intermediate technical stops mainly to compact the group. In any case, for any need or emergency in the queue of the group there is a small bus that assists rollerbladers in difficulty.
In my opinion it is a very original initiative to experience the city in a different way and to keep fit!
