Located in the heart of the Rhine wine region, Mainz has played many historic roles. Due to its favorable location on the mouth of the Main River near the Nahe River, Mainz gained economic and political strength. Under Roman rule it served as a key northern defense, and during the Middle Ages it was a major trade center. Later, Mainz was home to Johannes Gutenberg, father of the printing press. Learn more about this invention with a visit to the World Museum of Printing or enjoy the Roman-German Museum. You may wish to walk through St. Stephen’s Cathedral to see Marc Chagall’s world-famous stained-glass windows.