Trip to Democracy - von Eltville nach Mainz auf den Spuren Gutenbergs

Our excursion takes us by ship from Eltville along the Rhine to Mainz, where the interim of the Gutenberg Museum will be visited. Until the new museum is built in the coming years, the interim has relocated its exhibition to the former Reichklara Monastery in the Natural History Museum. Here, the museum director Dr. Ulf Sölter will guide us through the impressive exhibition on the life and work of Johannes Gutenberg, which already sparks curiosity about the reopening of the Gutenberg Museum. Look forward also to a visit to the printing workshop and take a glimpse into the heart of the exhibition, the famous treasure chamber with the Bible prints.

Program Schedule:

1 PM: Meeting point at the Lower Castle Gate / Zwinger of the Electoral Castle: Guided tour following Gutenberg’s traces through Eltville (duration approx. 30-45 minutes)

2 PM: Departure of the ship (Charter liner van de Lücht), municipal landing stage Eltville (drinks and snacks can be purchased on board).

3 PM Arrival at the ship landing Fischtor-Platz in Mainz, walk to the Gutenberg Museum (approx. 10 minutes)

3:30 PM to 5:30 PM Guided tour in the Gutenberg Museum and visit to the printing workshop, opportunity to print. Walk back to the ship landing.

6 PM Return to Eltville by ship, arrival Eltville at the municipal landing stage approx. 7 PM

Background:

The cities of Eltville and Mainz on the Rhine are connected not only by the Rhine but also by history: For 820 years, the Rheingau belonged to Mainz; the Electoral Castle Eltville once served as the summer residence of the Mainz archbishops. And Johannes Gutenberg also connects Mainz and Eltville: born in 1400 in Mainz, he often visited his maternal family in Eltville; his older brother Friele Gensfleisch lived and worked here as well.

And here he received in 1465 the only honor during his lifetime when Elector Adolf of Nassau appointed him as courtier. Presumably, he was inspired in Eltville to use the process of pressing wine for his later printing method with movable type. This invention revolutionized the world—and sowed the first seeds of democracy.

For it was only thanks to printing with movable type that the reformer Martin Luther and his companions could multiply his theses and spread them among the people. The printing method developed at a rapid pace for that time; after Mainz, Eltville and Strasbourg were the places where printing took place thanks to the new technology.

The today's excursion makes clear how the ingenious invention from Mainz became the cornerstone of our modern democracy and why traces of Gutenberg can still be discovered today in the small town of Eltville.

It is a cooperation between the city of Eltville am Rhein, the Castle and Gutenberg Association Eltville, and the Gutenberg Museum Mainz.

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The event "Trip to Democracy" is part of the global project World Design Capital and is funded by it. Every two years, this title is awarded by the World Design Organization (WDO)® to support cities for their efforts in promoting design in economic, social, cultural, and ecological areas.

In 2026, the Frankfurt RheinMain region will hold the title "World Design Capital". The motto "Design for Democracy. Atmospheres for a better life – Let’s design how we want to live" is an invitation for active participation in shaping our living spaces and our democracy.