Mainz, Germany

The city of Mainz is home to about 200,000 people and lies in the southern half of Germany. The history of the city dates back to Roman times. One world-famous Mainz resident is Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press. The city’s university, founded over 500 years ago, was also named after Gutenberg. Today it is home to more than 150 institutes and departments, with an enrollment of over 35,000 students. 15 percent come from abroad. Mainz was a political trailblazer for Germany. With the establishment of the Republic of Mainz in 1793, the first democratic system of government in German history came into being. Along with other cities along the Rhine River like Cologne and Dusseldorf, Mainz is known for its annual Carnival celebration.