The days are getting shorter and somehow you want to snuggle up with tea at home?! However, it is worthwhile to explore Rheinhessen even in the dark season with various activities. Whether it's a shopping trip or a romantic torchlight hike - I present you 5 tips for the pre-Christmas season in Mainz and the surrounding area.
1) Christmas stroll through Mainz's Augustinerstraße
Augustinerstraße is one of the heart of Mainz's old town and runs from Hopfengarten to Leichhof with a view of the cathedral. The pedestrian zone is characterized by restaurants, owner-managed boutiques and stores. A Christmas stroll along the street lined with half-timbered houses is a great way to cross a Christmas present or two off your list. Strengthened with a delicious coffee from Kaffeebar Müller, which roasts its beans in its own factory in Bodenheim, you can browse through a wide selection of teas and spices from all over the world at "Mutter Holunder". The concept store "Unsereins", which offers sustainable fashion and accessories, is located in the picturesque cherry orchard - probably one of the most popular photo motifs in Mainz. Here you will find a wide selection of small and large gifts for the Advent calendar or for a present under the Christmas tree. A few meters further on, the new Kollektiv Mainz store offers space for local and local young labels, start-ups and creative minds outside the mainstream. If you get hungry after this extensive shopping tour, you should definitely visit stop off at a traditional Mainz wine tavern!
2) Winter world in the Laubenheimer Höhe
The name already suggests it - the Hofgut Laubenheimer Höhe is beautifully situated on a hill in the hilly landscape of Rheinhessen and is located directly on the RheinTerrassenWeg. In the cold season, the Hofgut is transformed into a winter wonderland with the highest ice rink in the Rhine-Main region. From Tuesday to Sunday, you can pirouette on the ice rink, enjoy a cozy time with friends and family with mulled wine and all kinds of treats or awaken your sporting spirit with curling. Groups can also stop off at the cozy Kaminhütte and enjoy a hearty meal by the crackling campfire.
3) Winterliche Stadtführung
How about a guided city tour through the pre-Christmas cities of Rheinhessen? The WeinWalk Mainz team, for example, offers a special city tour through Mainz in the run-up to Christmas. On this WinterWalk discover wintry Mainz with mulled wine and regional wines. You will experience the city from a very special side!
4) Visit the Christmas market
In Mainz, Worms, Alzey and Ingelheim, Christmas market lovers can enjoy a convivial time with a variety of delicacies. In the cathedral city of Mainz, the market stretches across the cathedral forecourt in a blaze of lights. The beautiful Christmas pyramid at the entrance, the nativity scene and the quaint Christmas village give the market its very special charm. The atmospheric castle church in Ingelheim is the location for the Christmas market on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th weekends in Advent. The lantern tours over the fortified walls are a highlight here.
The Christmas market opens in the heart of Worms under the motto "Nibelungen Christmas". Enjoy the Christmas spirit in a sea of lights, decorations and delicacies. All dates and information can be found here.
5) Mulled wine hike / torchlight hike near Nierstein
When the vines have shed their leaves and the hilly landscape of Rheinhessen is shrouded in mist, the scenery can sometimes seem rather dreary. However, a winter hike through the vineyards near Nierstein can be a welcome change and conjures up a very special atmosphere. The Buhl winery offers the following on selected dates Torchlight hikes in the evening hours. The hike leads through the vineyards of the magnificent Nierstein vineyards with sensational views of the Rhine at night and the illuminated skyline of Frankfurt. After approx. 45 minutes of hiking with all kinds of interesting facts, there is a longer break at the Fockenberghütte with hot sausage and homemade warming mulled wine. Vegetarian options are available on request. Afterwards, the tour continues by torchlight past the Wartturm tower back to the picturesque Buhl family vineyard. You can warm up again here with a plate of homemade soup. Wrap up warm, lace up your hiking boots and set off on this special experience.
Do you have any other tips on how you spend the cozy season? Let us know in the comments.
