Mannheim in Winter – This is What You Can Do!
At the end of November, I was in Mannheim for two days. I already knew the city from other short visits, as it is also not far from my hometown Kelkheim near Frankfurt. So I have met friends here from time to time or even went dancing. Now I should experience Mannheim for the first time in winter! The reason for my trip was the concert Night of the Proms, for which I couldn’t get tickets in Frankfurt anymore.
Mannheim – The City of Squares
Mannheim and Heidelberg were the capitals of the Electorate Palatinate, or Kurpfalz for short. This is evidenced, for example, by Mannheim Castle, which was built between 1720 and 1760 and was temporarily the residence of the Elector of the Palatinate.
The heavy destruction of the city center during World War II meant that the entire city center had to be rebuilt. This reconstruction was carried out in the style of the 1950s – namely in a grid-shaped street network, which gave the city one of its many nicknames, the Square City. Mannheim is known for its parks, for its music culture and for its multicultural diversity.
Mannheim in Winter – This is What You Can do!
I don’t know about you… But when I think of Mannheim, I think of the parks and the beautiful university and the castle. All places that are not ideal for winter excursions. At least if you feel the cold as easily as me.
Therefore I have four things here that you can do in Mannheim in winter:
Check Out The Art Gallery
The art gallery called Kunsthalle Mannheim was the first museum in Mannheim and was inaugurated in 1909. It is one of the first civic collections of modern art in the world. It was founded as a museum in 1909 and houses one of the most renowned civic collections in Germany. Works by Manet, Pissaro, van Gogh or Bacon in painting and numerous sculptures make the heart of every art lover beat faster. From the very beginning, the motto has been „Art for all“ and is thus committed to people – regardless of their origin or education.
Until June 1st of 2018, the Kunsthalle was housed in the Art Nouveau building designed by Hermann Billing, which was ceremonially built in 1907 to mark the 300th anniversary of the city of Mannheim. Today’s complex has grown naturally: in part very modern and a work of art in itself. While the other part is the former Jugendstil building.
At a different time of the year, you can certainly sit nicely on the roof terrace, enjoy the sun and let the works of art take effect on you.
For all those who like it modern, the Kunsthalle Mannheim offers an app as a multimedia companion. There are guided tours and information on exhibitions, works and events. It can be downloaded from both the Apple Store and the Google Play Store.
Here are the facts about the Kunsthalle Mannheim:
Opening hours:
Tuesday – Sunday & Holidays 10 – 18 h
Wednesday 10 – 20 h / 1st Wednesday of the month 10 – 22 h
Closed on MondayEntrance:
14 Euro / reduced 12 Euro
Family ticket: 24 Euro (2 adults with children under 18 years)
Evening ticket: 10 Euro (valid from 1 ½ h before closing time)
Annual ticket: 30 Euro (from 18 years, valid 1 year from date of redemption)Free entrance – MVV art night
1st Wednesday of the month, 18 – 22 Uhr
Go to the Technoseum
In the Technoseum, the State Museum for Technology and Work, you can go on an interactive journey through time. Information is combined with experiences and complex technical topics are presented in a vivid way. It is a foundation under public law and is financed by the City of Mannheim and the State of Baden-Württemberg.
The exhibition covers 200 years of technology as well as social history and is in many cases prepared in a playful and even child-friendly way, so that one does not just walk through a simple museum and look at exhibits or read the respective descriptions. No, here, everybody becomes an actor who likes to experiment. This is specially the case in the uppermost floor where one can help oneself.
In an increasingly complex world, the Technoseum wants to make technical progress understandable and illustrate the influence on people’s lives and work. Modern technologies hold opportunities, but also risks. This is what the museum wants to show.
These are the facts about the Technoseum:
Opening hours:
Daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Entrance:
Adults 9,00 Euro
Reduced 6,00 Euro
Children up to 6 years old free
Go to a Show at the Planetarium
In 1927 one of the world’s first planetariums was opened in Mannheim. Under a 24.5-meter dome in the Luisenpark, 514 people could be seated. In 1943, however, it was damaged in a bombing raid and demolished ten years later. It was not until 1975 that there was a citizens‘ initiative to help rebuild the planetarium.
In 1984 the time had finally come: the new planetarium was built on Europaplatz. The dome is 20 metres high and can accommodate 280 people. It was equipped with the most powerful projector available at the time. But the technology improved so much over the decades that a new one had to be built in 2002. Universarium is the name of the chic new acquisition, which can realistically depict stars using fiber optics.
The old projector is located in front of the entrance to the Dome Hall and can be viewed while waiting for the performance to begin. In addition, a cafeteria ensures that you can warm up when you come in from the wintery cold streets of Mannheim.
These are the facts for the Planetarium Mannheim:
Opening hours:
The opening hours of the planetarium vary as they depend on the performances, which are different every day. In the schedule you can see which performances are upcoming. The doors open one hour before the performance starts.
Free choice of seats for all events!
Admission approx. 10 minutes before the performance begins.
Tickets:
Adults 9,50 € Group of adults 8,50 € Reduced 7,00 € Children (up to 12 years) 5,00 € Students in a group 5,00 €
Have a Hot Drink at the Christmas Market
200 huts are waiting at the Mannheim Christmas market at the water tower… For feasting, strolling, Christmas shopping! Because there’s a lot to discover here and maybe you’ll come up with an odd gift idea for Christmas.
In Germany, Mannheim’s Christmas market is one of the oldest and largest. It takes place around the water tower, the city’s landmark.
Be enchanted by the carousel organ or make a detour to the 18-metre high Christmas pyramid. It is accessible and there is even a café upstairs.
A colourful programme awaits you on a stage: artists can show off their talents here from 6 pm! Whether choirs, musicians or dancers… There is something for everyone!
These are the facts about the Mannheim Christmas market:
Mannheim Christmas market at the water tower
25 November to 23 December 2019
Or 23 November to 23 December 2020
Daily from 11 to 21
Hotel in Mannheim
I was accommodated in the Leonardo Royal Hotel Mannheim, less than five minutes walk from the water tower. You can reach all the places listed here within 15 minutes at the most, walking easily. So the location was ideal for me.
You can find a detailed description of my hotel stay here: Leonardo Royal Hotel Mannheim.
Mannheim in Winter – My Final Thoughts
My reason for this trip was a concert. So I must admit: I was a bit skeptical at first whether I would even like Mannheim in winter. I’ve already been to the parks and to the university, so I knew Mannheim mainly as a destination where you can go for wonderful walks. But what should I do in winter?
I had not expected to have such a nice time! But I found the Technoseum really exciting and it was my first time in a planetarium. The Christmas market was also really great and it gave us – me and my family – a perfect opportunity to have a bite to eat before the concert, but at the same time to do some exploring.
All in all it was a fun weekend trip!
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