In its everyday life, Mainz, as the state capital of Rhineland-Palatinate, proves that tradition and progress can mingle successfully. Looking back on a history spanning 2,000 years, Romans, electors, and personalities such as Barbarossa and Gutenberg have left their mark on the modern city of Mainz. Today, Mainz stands for cosmopolitanism and conviviality. Located on the River Rhine in one of Germany's most picturesque regions, the city of Mainz provides a pleasant background for student life, while the proximity of Frankfurt facilitates contacts with renowned public institutions and private firms.
Mainz always has an "open ear" for culture, and not only because the well-known Whitsun festival with theatre, music, and cabaret bears this name. State theatres, small stages, and other cultural centres provide a lively and varied array of offerings for all tastes. New and experimental forms of theatre are presented at the "studio theatre" (Kammerspiele), while the historic Moller building in the centre of the city presents opera, theatre, and ballet.
The state capital is furthermore a vital location for business, including many media companies such as the German Television ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen), which promotes the image of its home town across Europe on a daily basis. Extensive wine-growing areas on the edge of the city are enticing places for a relaxing walk in the vineyards. Other delightful surrounding areas offer a wealth of opportunities for day trips: the charming Rheingau region with its famous monasteries such as Eberbach situated in the hills, a romantic boat trip on the Rhine, or a short tour through the splendid landscapes of the Hunsrück, Odenwald, and Taunus ranges of hills.