In life-size, Johannes Gutenberg rises on the square named after him. The bronze statue is crafted by the Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen and depicts the inventor of the printing press in an idealized form: bearded, elegantly dressed, with a Bible and typefaces in hand, as no contemporary portrait exists.
At the inauguration in 1837, the people of Mainz celebrated for three days. Even today, the Gutenbergplatz around the monument is vibrant, especially during the Johannisnacht at the end of June, when the festival in honor of the famous son of Mainz is celebrated.
