Kasteler banks of the Rhine
The other side of the Rhine is also beautiful and invites you to linger and relax, and the view of Mainz is also worth a recommendation.
The Theodor Heuss Bridge connects the Mainz bank of the Rhine with the Kastel side of the river. Here, too, there are a wide range of leisure activities on offer on both sides of the bridge: sunbathing until sunset, visiting the beach, walking to the Maaraue, exploring the historic Reduit, or relaxing on the Rhine meadows—there are so many possibilities.
Reduit
The Reduit Barracks in Mainz-Kastel were built as part of the expansion of the Mainz Fortress in the early 19th century. Their purpose was to fortify the Kastel bridgehead of the Theodor-Heuss-Brücke. Today, the fortress is located in the Mainz-Kastel district, which is administered in trust by Wiesbaden. Children, teenagers, and adults gather here for live concerts, festivals, and children’s and sports events. Culture, entertainment, and the view of Mainz Cathedral draw people to the fortress, which is situated directly on the Rhine. Summer at the Reduit is a fixture on the cultural calendars of Mainz and Wiesbaden every year.
At the Castellum Museum, the Kastel Local History Society presents the history of Kastel, which spans over 2,000 years. The Reduit also houses the AKK Children’s and Youth Center. In the summer, the Rhine beach operated by the Schönborn Bastion is located right in front of the Kastel Reduit. It’s a wonderful place to relax in a deck chair until the sun sets over the rooftops of Mainz.
Bastion of Schönborn
The Schönborn Bastion is a reconstructed log cabin from the former Reduit Federal Fortress (Mainz-Kastel) on the right bank of the Rhine, adjacent to the Mainz Fortress. It once protected the pontoon bridge on the southeastern flank; today, visitors can dine and relax here while enjoying views of the Mainz skyline. On the first floor of the building is the so-called Raftsmen’s Room. Here, in the Kastel “Raftsmen’s Museum,” numerous exhibits related to this old profession are on display.