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Bounded by the Rhine to the north and east, connected to the Palatinate to the south, and framed by the Nahe and Alsenz rivers to the west, this is the Rheinhessen region! From fruit cultivation in the north to the Rhine terraces and the hilly middle of Rheinhessen to the foothills of the North Palatine Uplands in the Rheinhessen Switzerland. Nowhere do the contrasts between historic cities and diverse landscapes lie closer together.
Contrary to what the name might suggest, Rheinhessen is not in Hesse, but in Rhineland-Palatinate and is also home to the state capital of Rhineland-Palatinate, Mainz. Between hilly wine landscapes and the Rhine, the region hosts many smaller and larger towns and is home to over 645,000 people.
You can find an overview of the region's cities and a selection of their most impressive sights on our overview map. For more information, attractions, and activities, visit the pages of the individual cities and regions!
The two largest cities of Rheinhessen - Mainz and Worms - not only host two impressive imperial cathedrals but were also jointly declared a UNESCO World Heritage SchUM site with Speyer in 2021. A visit to these two cities offers the chance to admire remarkable historical structures of Christian origin and to delve into the history and present of Ashkenazi Judaism.
Furthermore, in both locations, a multitude of other historically significant sites from the Roman era, the Reformation period around Martin Luther, or the transition to the modern era through Johannes Gutenberg can be experienced up close!
The 2000-year history of the city of Mainz, home to ZDF and Mainz 05, began with the Romans. In the picturesque old town, you feel transported to the Middle Ages, and Johannes Gutenberg marks the transition to the modern era. The inventor of the printing press is the city's greatest son, honored with the Gutenberg Monument, the Gutenberg Museum, and the Johannisnacht festival. But Mainz also offers plenty of unique features and a great deal of joie de vivre in the here and now!
Worms and the Nibelungen are inseparably connected, as significant parts of the saga take place in the city and its surroundings. Landmarks inspired by this connection, such as the Hagen monument and the Siegfried well, shape the cityscape. The multimedia Nibelungen Museum illuminates the medieval heroes, and high-caliber actors bring them to life during the Nibelungen Festival in the shadow of the Worms Cathedral.
Following the Rheinhessen section of the Rhine northwards, you will pass through some wonderful landscapes and places worth a visit. Be enchanted by the above and underground Oppenheim, sample wines from the famous Red Slope in Nierstein, immerse yourself in days long gone by with a visit to the Imperial Palace in Ingelheim, or walk in the footsteps of Saint Hildegard of Bingen in Bingen!
Idyllically nestled between rows of vines and fruit trees, located along the northern course of the Rhine between Ingelheim and Bingen, you will find the orchard of Rheinhessen and with it the towns of the Gau-Algesheim municipality. Historical market squares and town halls, picturesque village scenes, and noteworthy churches are omnipresent here. However, what particularly enchants is the splendor of the blossoms, which are an unmissable feast for the eyes, especially during the cherry blossom season! Whether on foot or by bicycle, here you will learn how you too can immerse yourself in the orchard of Rheinhessen!
From the splendid vistas high up in the Rheinhessen vineyards, it goes down in no time to the picturesque bank of the Rhine with its islands, old arms, and the Altrheinsee Eich at the eastern edge of Rheinhessen! An elevation difference of approximately 100 meters separates, for example, the Brudersberg viewpoint, "Most Beautiful Wine View 2012",which even offers views as far as Frankfurt, and the Rhine bank, inviting for leisurely bike tours on the Rhine Cycle Route or visits to the charming towns along the bank.
In the center of Rheinhessen, those seeking peace will find their paradise. The spa town of Bad Kreuznach, together with the neighboring Bad Münster am Stein-Ebernburg, offers its guests an extensive wellness and relaxation program and is home to the Salinental graduation works, the largest open-air inhalatorium in Europe! Those who prefer to find relaxation through physical activity can disconnect from everyday life on numerous cycling and hiking tours in the heart of Rheinhessen and simply let their souls unwind.
Bad Kreuznach offers wellness, health, and spa services, as well as magnificent natural landscapes in the romantic Nahe Valley. During a stroll through the elegant spa area, you can discover traces from Roman times and the Middle Ages or wander through the Salinental Health Park and enjoy the beneficial salty air. In the early 20th century, Bad Kreuznach became a renowned spa town, evidenced even today by the elegant villas and green spaces and the lovingly designed spa park. But even outside the spa town, great active experiences in nature await you!
The south of Rheinhessen is not only home to the typical Rheinhessen vineyard cottages, the Trullo, but also offers magnificent landscapes with the Wonnegau, Zellertal, and the Rheinhessische Schweiz, which are crisscrossed with worthwhile cycling and hiking trails. For cultural variety, the cities of Alzey and Osthofen provide a diverse range of museums, events, and attractions to delight visitors.
In the south of Rheinhessen, in close proximity to the Rhine and to Worms, lies Osthofen. With its location amidst vineyards and the Altrheinsee Eich, the city offers a wonderful starting point to explore the region with its natural beauty. But it's not just the surrounding landscape that has much to offer. Osthofen itself can also look back on a long and eventful history, which began in 784 with the first mention of the village "ostova" (Osthofen) and turned the former village into the administrative center of the collective municipality Wonnegau in 2015.
The city of Alzey enchants with its lovingly restored old town, featuring picturesque half-timbered houses and numerous restaurants, cafes, and shops. Especially worth a visit are the Rossmarkt with its beautiful half-timbered houses and the Rossmarkt fountain, the venerable Alzey Castle, as well as the Fish Market with the "old town hall." But the surroundings of Alzey also have plenty of highlights to offer and invite you to extensive hikes or bike tours!
