The Gutenberg Museum in Mainz brings the invention of printing technology to life: with original Gutenberg Bibles, a workshop reconstruction and interactive media, it presents the history of writing and printing to the present day.
In the heart of Mainz's old town, directly opposite the majestic cathedral, is the Gutenberg Museum, one of the oldest museums of printing art in the world. It was founded in 1900 to erect a permanent monument to the inventor of movable type printing - Johannes Gutenberg.
The museum houses one of the most valuable collections on the history of printing, including two original copies of the famous 42-line Gutenberg Bible, presented in a walk-in vault. Visitors can also discover a reconstructed Gutenberg workshop, where the techniques of early book printing are vividly demonstrated. The permanent exhibitions cover writing culture from all over the world, printing techniques, typography, bookbinding, art books and media history - from the first letters to the present day.
The museum is currently housed in the interim location at Reichklarastrasse 1 - an exciting stopover on the way to a planned new building opposite the cathedral. Numerous temporary exhibitions, interactive offerings such as the print store and educational workshops make the museum a lively cultural venue that combines history and the present in an inspiring way.
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