Mannheim Water Tower and other Mannheim, Germany Things to Do Tips

Mannheim Water Tower

This isn't so much a "must see" as a "can't miss" kind of landmark. I see it twice every time I go to Mannheim.

No wonder, because it is exactly halfway between the main station and the National Theater. So it is very useful for reassuring people that they are on the right street.

Not that it's a problem to get to the theater. You just walk straight ahead from the station. After four blocks you get to the Water Tower, and after another four blocks you arrive at the theater.

On the way back the tower is nicely lit up, so you can't miss it then, either. As soon as my camera starts obeying instructions I'll take a night picture of the Water Tower as well, but for the time being you'll have to make do with this daytime shot.

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Address: Friedrichsplatz, Mannheim

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Things To Do: Nationaltheater Mannheim

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Updated by Nemorino

on Sep 29, 2004

Nationaltheater Mannheim

The National Theater in Mannheim was founded in 1779, but the current building is a modern one that was built from 1955 to 1957.

It has a large glassed-in foyer on the ground floor, with stairs going up to the large and small performance halls on the right and left. The acoustics are fine, and you have an unobstructed view from every seat. In addition to opera, they also do operettas, musicals, ballet and spoken theater.

I've seen a mixed bag of opera productions here, from a grim version of Verdi's Troubador to a very funny staging of Mozart's Don Giovanni, complete with graphs and pie-charts projected onto the stage while Leporello sang his famous register aria listing the numbers of women his master had seduced in various European countries. (The winner of course is Spain with one thousand and three.)

Since Mannheim is only 37 minutes by ICE-train from Frankfurt, it's no trouble to get there and back for an opera performance.

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Phone: (06 21) 16 80 - 150
Address: Goetheplatz, Mannheim
Directions: Walk eight blocks straight ahead from the main train station, or take the streetcar number 5 in the direction of Käfertal/Weinheim.
Website: www.nationaltheater.de

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Things To Do: Mannheim's blocks

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Updated by Nemorino

on Oct 16, 2004

First block on the right in front

of the castle

In most of downtown Mannheim, 143 square blocks of it to be exact, there are no street names but rather block numbers.

When you stand with your back to the castle (which is not a bad idea anyway because the castle is being renovated and is covered with scaffolding at the moment) the first block on your left is A1 and the first block on your right is L1.

Going off to your left are the blocks A2, A3, A4 (where the Jesuit Church is) and A5. Going off to your right are L2, L3 (where the tax office is), L4, l5 etc.

If you walk straight ahead away from the castle, which is roughly north-northeast, you pass blocks B1, C1, D1 etc. up to K1 on the left, and M1, N1, O1 (which is Paradeplatz), P1 etc. up to U1 on the right.

The house numbers go around each block starting at the corner which is closest to the castle. In the A-K blocks the numbers go around each block in a counter-clockwise direction, and in the L-U blocks they go around clockwise.

The address of a building in this area usually consists of the block number, a comma and the house number. The Adult Education Center for instance is at R3, 13.

Any questions?

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Directions: When you come out of the railway station, this downtown area with block numbers is on your left (L15 is the first block on your left as you leave the station).

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Things To Do: Jesuit Church

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Updated by Nemorino

on Mar 14, 2009

Jesuit Church, Mannheim

This Jesuit Church is said to be the largest church in Mannheim and the most important baroque church in southwest Germany. It was built between 1733 and 1760.

Renovation work is now in progress inside the church, particularly the altar. Click on the link below for a photo of how the altar looks when it is not being worked on.

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Phone: 06 21 - 2 38 42
Address: A4. I was standing in B3 when I took the photo.
Website: In German: http://www.zum.de/Faecher/G/BW/Landeskunde/rhein/ma/jesuik/jesuiten3.htm

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Things To Do: Stadthaus

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Written by Nemorino

on Sep 6, 2004

Stadthaus, Mannheim

Block N1 consists of a large modern building called the City House (Stadthaus). It houses the city library, seen here, as well as numerous offices, shops, restaurants and cafés.

On the other side, facing Paradeplatz, there is also a Tower Café which is open from 4 p.m. to midnight.

(This is the kind of photo that looks a lot different when you enlarge it. Does anybody know why that is?)

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Address: N1

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Things To Do: Paradeplatz

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Written by Nemorino

on Sep 6, 2004

Paradeplatz Mannheim

This is the traditional center and meeting point of Mannheim. Most of the major tram lines cross here, and the big department stores are nearby.

There are some pleasant outdoor cafés around the edges.

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Address: O1

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Things To Do: Mannheim University & Castle

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Updated by Nemorino

on May 30, 2005

Mannheim University & Castle