With over 600,000 inhabitants, Louisville is the largest city in Kentucky. It lies on the southern bank of the Ohio River in a wide valley surrounded by the rolling hills of "Bluegrass Country," which is particularly suitable for horse breeding.

Thomas A. Edison, inventor of the light bulb, Zachary Taylor, the 12th president of the United States, actors Tom Cruise, Ned Beatty, and Victor Mature, and boxing world champion Muhammad Ali are well-known personalities from this city.

Louisville was founded in 1778 as a base camp for military operations against the British and their allies by General George Rogers Clark and was declared a city as early as 1780. It is named after King Louis XVI of France, who supported the new colonies in America in their war against the English both militarily and economically.

On the way west, the Ohio River became increasingly important. Originally, goods from the east had to be transshipped because of the "Falls of the Ohio," but the construction of a canal and a lock in 1830 turned Louisville into an important river port. The construction of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad and the invention of the steamboat enabled the large-scale transport of tobacco, bourbon whiskey, and agricultural and industrial products, which contributed to the further economic development of the entire region in the 19th century.

There are numerous attractions in Louisville, including Thomas A. Edison's house, the Kentucky Art & Craft Gallery, the Louisville Stoneware Company, Hadley Pottery, and the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, where baseball bats for top players are manufactured. Main Street, with its museums, many outdoor sculptures, and old facades with wrought-iron columns, is a worthwhile destination for any visitor to Louisville.

For art lovers, we recommend the J. B. Speed Museum and the historic water tower, which also houses exhibitions of contemporary art.

Important figures in American history found their final resting place in Cave Hill Cemetery and Zachary Taylor National Cemetery. The expanded McAlpine Locks and Dam, inaugurated in 2008, where visitors can learn about the historic locks, is well worth a visit, as is the Louisville Zoo, with its numerous animals living in an environment modeled on their natural habitat.

Founded in 1798, the University of Louisville is one of the most important universities in the state of Kentucky, with over 20,000 students. It has twelve schools and colleges with around 200 departments. The Speed School of Engineering and the Medical School enjoy an excellent reputation. In 1999, the first hand transplant was performed here, and in 2001, an artificial heart was implanted in a patient for the first time.

But sports are also important: the UofL basketball and football teams have a very good reputation in the USA.

Louisville is also a leader in literature with its library and "workforce training."

Its central location in the United States and excellent transport network make Louisville an attractive business location. Many global companies have their headquarters or a branch in the city, including UPS with its own fleet of aircraft, General Electric, Ford, and Kentucky Fried Chicken. The horse farms in the surrounding area and the world-famous bourbon distilleries are an important economic factor. Every first Saturday in May, the Churchill Downs racetrack and the Kentucky Derby Museum attract horse lovers from all over the world to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby.

Louisville's attractive location makes it a great place for leisure activities. On the Ohio River, the steam-powered "Belle of Louisville" invites you to enjoy a river cruise with excellent food, and the city has numerous parks with many sports facilities that are used by locals and visitors alike. Horse races are held several times a year.

The cultural offerings are diverse: in addition to galleries, museums, and festivals, there is the Louisville Orchestra, the Louisville Ballet, the Kentucky Opera Association, and the Actors Theater of Louisville. Guest performances by famous opera houses often take place at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts. Also worth seeing are the Museum of History and Natural Science, the Kentucky Railway Museum, and the Rauch Memorial Planetarium.
The Kentucky Derby Festival offers a variety of attractions, such as the Hot Air Balloon Race and the Steamboat Race.

Louisville is a great place to eat: culinary specialties were brought here by immigrants from all over the world and are now offered in many typical restaurants. At My Old Kentucky Dinner Train, for example, you can enjoy a four-course meal during a two-hour train ride.

The city partnership between Mainz and Louisville has been in place since 1994. Many friendly relationships between universities, schools, sports clubs, doctors, music groups, and artists' associations had already been established in the years prior to this. This partnership is maintained

and strengthened through exchanges and private encounters. Following the withdrawal of American forces from Mainz, it has become an important factor in fostering German-American friendship. The Mainz-Louisville Friendship Association supports this city partnership on a voluntary basis.