Against the backdrop of the 1,000-year-old St. Martin's Cathedral, Mainz's marketplace transforms into a sea of lights during the Advent season, featuring festively decorated stalls.

The eleven-meter-high, richly adorned Christmas pyramid delights visitors right at the courtyard, the main entrance to the market. Just a few steps further, the hand-carved, life-sized nativity figures in front of the Gothic chapel of St. Martin's Cathedral leave a lasting impression. Particularly beautiful to admire are the colorful Renaissance facades of the historical market buildings. Merry-go-rounds and handmade toys make children's hearts soar in the cathedral squares. At the lower entrance of the market, 18 hand-carved angel figures leisurely rotate on the roof of the nine-meter-high music box.

Numerous cathedral concerts and matinees, the traditional fairy tale performance at the Mainz State Theatre, and the popular Christmas card printing in the Gutenberg Museum's print shop are just some of the special Christmas attractions in Mainz, along with the many smaller Christmas markets in the city center and surrounding areas.