The region

Mainz is a student and media city in Western Germany. Geographically it is located in a hilly landscape where the river Main ends in the bigger Rhine river and where the German federal states Rheinland-Pfalz and Hessen come together. The vicinated towns of Mainz (200,000 inhabitants) and Wiesbaden (280,000 inhabitants) form an urban area around the Rhine river, which is part of the so called "Rhein Main region". Frankfurt airport and the banking city Frankfurt are close (20 - 30 km). Although the total population of Germany is decreasing Mainz is still growing. About 15% of the registered residents in Mainz have a foreign nationality.
 

Mainz, the capital of Rheinland-Pfalz is located at 80-200 m of altitude in the middle Rhine valley, opposite of Wiesbaden, the capital of Hessen. Both towns are separated by the Rhine river but connected by their outskirts, four bridges and a common transport network.

The landscape around is dominated by the Rhine river, vineyards along the river, the forested hills of Taunus in the North East (up to 600 m of altitude close to the town), fruit tree plantations in the North West and open fields and vineyards in the South. The upper middle-Rhine valley a bit more to the North is regarded as one of the most beautiful landscapes in Germany, belongs to the world heritage sites and is famous for its castles, little vine villages and the windings of the river between steep rocks. The photo shows Mainz from South on the left side of the Rhine river, Wiesbaden on the right side.
 

Mainz is located in a warm and relatively dry part of Germany. The average annual temperature is 10,1°C the annual precipitation 613 mm (Roma: 15.4°C, 756 mm; Hamburg: 8.6 °C, 768 mm). Thanks to the mild and in summer warm climate vine and fruit-growing (apples, pears, cherries and plums) is possible. Snow lasts very seldom for more than one day in the town, but can stay for a while in cold winters on the surrounding hills. In summer, maximum temperatures can be expected in the range from 25-32°C. Usually Mainz has about 40 "summer days" per year with more than 25°C maximum.