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Mainz Carnival, Germany

Colores mágicos en el carnaval de Múnich
Munich Carnival, Germany
Durante los desfiles de los carnavales de Aquisgrán se arrojan dulces a la multitud
Aachen Carnival, Germany

 

What is the Mainz Carnival?

Mainz Carnival or Mainz is a celebration that takes place every year in that city.  It is currently one of the most iconic and traditional festivals of Mainz, which is attended by hundreds of thousands of people in each edition, year after year. Today, the city of Mainz boasts one of the most amazing and unique carnivals in all of Germany.
During the carnival seasons, tourists and residents alike take to the streets to take part in these wonderful carnival celebrations. These in turn, are also known as Fasching or thefifth season. The name ofthe Fifth Season has been used in the various carnivals of Germany due to the great cultural importance that these have incorporated in citizenship.



Join us to learn all the interesting facts about the Mainz Carnivals.

 

The crowded parades at the Mainz Carnivals

The crowded parades at the Mainz Carnivals

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When is the Mainz Carnival

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There is a celebration in the month of November which is when this tradition is given birth to. However, the celebration of carnival as we know it with parades, costumes, music and food begins in February.

The Mainz Carnival celebration will take place on approximately February 11 and will culminate on February 17.

 

 

History of the Mainz Carnival

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The tradition of the Carnival in Mainz dates back centuries and has gone through different stages. The Mainz carnival is notable for itscriticism of the rulers, as it was in the early 19th century. The carnival arose as a kind of protest or mockery of the French troops that were in the city.



Today the Mainz carnival retains the same spirit, it is a space that participants own to mock or highlight certain political events happening in the region or around the world. These aspects are particularly obvious in the parades of the city during the parades. These in turn, integrate the different caricatured and exaggerated characters that in most of the times express a message of mocking protest.

 

Where is the Mainz Carnival

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Mainz Carnival is held in one of the federal states of Germany called Rhineland-Palatinate or Rhineland-Palatinate, more specifically in its capital Mainz or Mainz which is located on the banks of the Rhine River. The event starts in the vicinity of the Fastnachtsbrunnen at Schillerplatz..

 

The parades in Mainz and their characteristic giant head dolls

The parades in Mainz and their characteristic giant head dolls

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How the Mainz Carnival is celebrated

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The Mainz Carnival is celebrated in grand style with large colorful and decorated floats with different political personalities from the region or international. There are different events and parades that occur throughout the week such as the children’s parades which is celebrated with masks, costumes and music. The climax of the Mainz carnival is on Monday, February 15 or better known as Rosenmontag.

The emblematic Carnival Monday is when the festivities become much more lively, as this is when theimposing floats with big-headed characters take place. On many of the occasions these floats havepolitical inspirations, as the participants take the opportunity to express their displeasure to certain politicians of the region. Also on the carnival weekend, different events are held such as parties and events with costumes or colorful costumes.

The Mainz carnival is one of the most important events in the city and takes place during 6 days and 6 nights where all citizens have the opportunity to get carried away by these crazy celebrations.

If you want to know more about tourism in this country I recommend this guide:.

 

Tips for going to the Mainz Carnival

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It is a good idea to plan your trip in advance, as the Mainz Carnival is a celebration of utmost importance for the city, which also attracts manyboth national and international tourists. We recommend that you take the necessary precautions before attending so that you have the opportunity to experience Mainz Carnival as it should be experienced.

 

 

 

Events in Mainz Carnival

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The most prominent events of the carnival are the start of the carnivals which takes place on Schiller Square and the Rosenmontag. However, there are a number of events taking place in the city that you should not miss. These events include banquets, meetings, parties and musical performances. Likewise you can also find a variety of street parades and unique and singular colorful events. There is also the parade of children and teenagers that takes place in the streets of the city dressed in costumes and masks..

 

The various colors are a must at the Mainz carnival

The various colors are a must at the Mainz carnival

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Mainz Carnival Parades

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The main parades held during Mainz carnivals are those that give birth to the festival. The first one is the one held at the Schiller Square where the magical celebration of carnivals in this city begins. You also have the possibility to celebrate in the children’s parades or Jungendmáskenzug that take place in the center of the city and where children and teenagers have the possibility to participate in the carnivals wearing masks and dresses..

After this, there is the Rosenmontagwhich would be the most important event of the Mainz carnivals. The Rosenmontag is the largest parade and stretches for about 6 kilometers making it one of the longest in the region. Finally, the carnival comes to an end on Ash Wednesday and that is when the Lenten breakfast begins.

 

 

Parade route

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Mainz Parade Route

Mainz Parade Route

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The Mainz carnival parade starts at Schillerplatz or Shillerplatz where it is celebrated with a big show, music and hundreds of people in lively and colorful costumes. The following week is when the parades and floats take over the carnival and start the tour. The most important parade is the Rosenmontag which starts at exactly 11:11 and runs through various streets and areas of the city such as the Boppstraße, Bauhostraße, Ludwigsstraße, Rheinstraße, Schillerplatz and finally the Müsterplatz. The next day it is common for people to take to the streets to bid farewell to the carnivals and make a fresh start for the following year.

 

Glühwein is one of the most common drinks at carnivals

Glühwein is one of the most common drinks at carnivals

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What to eat at Carnival in Mainz

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During carnival it is common to come across different traditional dishes that you can taste at the different food fairs during carnivals. Some of the dishes you can find are the Pretzels, the Bratwurst or Krapfen, which are the equivalent ofdonuts in Germany. You can also enjoy hot and spiced wine also called Glühwein. If you want to satisfy your appetite in the different establishments of the city and see what they have to offer, there is a wide variety of places like Bei Bruno, Bellpepper Restaurant or the Stadthaus Schänke with a great variety of both national and international dishes.

 

Bratwurst typical carnival dish in Mainz

Bratwurst typical carnival dish in Mainz

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Travel Insurance

 

From Carnavalesdelmundo.org we recommend to hire a good insurance to visit this carnival and to know the rest of the country. For being our readers we offer a 5% discount on all IATI insurance. Read more information about all insurance offers here:

 

 

What to see and do inside Mainz Carnival

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If you have the opportunity to spend the carnival in Mainz, you can see and participate in a lot of events taking place in the city. You can watch the carroques and parades. At the same time, you can come across several establishments offering live music with DJs who keep the atmosphere of celebration alive during the Carnivals in Mainz. The celebrations generally continue late into the night, so you have plenty of options to enjoy the carnivals in this wonderful city.

If you don’t want to complicate things, here you can book interesting excursions in English in this city:.

Guided tours in Spanish around the world

 

What to see and do outside of Mainz Carnival

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Mainz is a city rich in culture and architecture, so you have a wide variety of places to visit before, during or after the carnival if you wish. The city of Mainz has a large number of museums such as the Gutenberg Museum, the Landesmuseum or the Museum of Navigation of the Ancient Age. All these museums have different themes, from art and painting toancient age vessels and much more.

The city boasts a number of different churches. The iconic Cathedral Mainz Cathedral or the Church of St. Emmeran, St. Stephen or St. John are also good options to visit during your stay and be amazed by their architectural style.

Also if you want to visit museums and important buildings in this city we recommend that you book your entrance ticket in advance through Tiquets: .

Book tickets in the city you are visiting

 

Safety at the Mainz Carnival

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Mainz is a quiet and peaceful city, so you have nothing to worry about when celebrating carnivals in this wonderful city. However, if you find yourself at large events, or among a large group of people as is the case with carnivals, remember to carry your belongings in a safe place and be aware of your surroundings. Also, we recommend the following products to keep your belongings safe:

 

 

Weather in Mainz

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The city’s climate ranges from 0 to 6 degrees Celsius, with approximately 6 days of precipitation. It is a good idea to have a coat during these dates, although if you come to celebrate carnivals in this magnificent city, you can keep warm with the different events, dances and parades that take place.

 

People at the Mainz carnivals show off their costumes

People at the Mainz carnivals show off their costumes

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How to get to Mainz Carnival

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How to get there by plane

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You can arrive at Frankfurt International Airport and from there take a train to Mainz Hauptbahnhof..

We recommend buying airline tickets through Kiwi.com or Skyscanner where they are usually cheaper. More information on this link to review Kiwi.com..

 

How to get there by train

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Mainz has a large network of train stations. One of them InterCity or InterCityExpress. Trains stop at the city’s main station.

 

How to get there by car

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You can reach the city by taking the following highways:A60 A61 A61 A63 A66.

 

Where to stay at the Mainz Carnival

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Booking.com

 

Fortunately the city of Mainz has a wide variety of hotels and venues where you can spend your next carnival, some of these are:

 

IntercityHotel Mainz

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4-star hotel and apartments. All rooms have tv and desk. Free internet and a varied breakfast buffet are available. This hotel is located in the city center.

 

Novotel Mainz

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It is a 4-star hotel. All of its rooms are equipped with air conditioning, TV and free internet. Additionally, it has a spa with indoor pool. The hotel is located 10 minutes from the central train station.

 

Hotel Havana

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It is one of the most popular venues in Mainz. It is a 19th century building on the banks of the Rhine River. All rooms are cheerfully decorated and additionally it has free Wi-Fi, satellite TV and you can have breakfast in your room.

We recommend using Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, see more information here:.

 


Booking.com

 

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