Celebrate 30 years of Louisville-Mainz Sister Cities Relations! Reserve your spot on our 2024 Mainz Leadership: September 7-13, 2024.

Mainz, Germany

After a “friendship circle” was formed with Mainz in 1976, the official sister city relationship with Louisville began in 1994. Mainz, a city located on the Rhine River and capital of the Rhineland-Palatinate Region, that has a rich culture and a long history. Louisville and Mainz share a love and appreciation for art, both having many events and museums promoting and displaying art.

  • Population: 217,556 (2021)

    Capital of the Rhineland-Palatinate Region

  • Founded by the Romans in the 1st century BC for military purposes due to its good strategic location between the Main and Rhine rivers

    Taken by the Franks right before the fall of the Roman Empire

    An area passed between France and Germany throughout history

    Bombed heavily during WWII, destroying 80 percent of the city’s center and historic buildings, and had to be reconstructed

    Birthplace of Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press

  • The Mainz Cathedral: built in 975 AD

    Gutenberg Museum

  • Weck, Worscht un Woi: a traditional lunch of bread rolls, sausage, and wine

    Saumagen: a cooked sausage made with spiced pork and vegetables

    Riesling: the signature wine of the region

  • Mainz carnival: lasts from November to Ash Wednesday, one of the longest carnivals in Germany with an emphasis on political and literary humor

    Weinmarkt: wine market festival 

    Johannisnacht: St. John’s Night, a celebration of Johannes Gutenberg

Explore the next Sister City.