2558 - Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Mainz is the capital city of Rhineland-Palatinate and home to 218 000 people. It dates back to 13 BCE. The Roman's built a military fortress here as it was the northermost frontier of the empire and the provincial capital of Germania Superior. As part of the Holy Roman Empire in the 8 century, Mainz was the capital of the Electorate of Mainz and seat of the Archbishop-Elector of Mainz, the Primate of Germany. 

Johannes Gutenberg was born in Mainz. He, of course, was the inventor of a moveable-type printing press. Gutenberg manufactured his first books here, including the Gutenberg Bible, in the early 1450s. 

Mainz was heavily damaged during World War II. Allies carried out more than 30 air raids destroying about 80% of the city centre, including most of the historic buildings. 

The card is an oversized, cartoonish picture of some of Essen's tourist attractions. Let's have a look at some of the attractions in Essen found on the card:

Schloss Borbeck (Borbeck Castle) 

Hundertwasserhaus

Essener Münster (Essen Minster) - this is the seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Essen. The present building is a reconstruction as the original building was destroy during the Second World War.

Alte Synagoge (Old Synagogue) - is one of the largest, best preserved, and architecturally most impressive testimonies to Jewish culture in pre-war Germany. It was severly damaged during Kristallnacht, but avoided being bombed during the war. Today it is a house of Jewish culture and a memorial.

Zeche Zoll-Verein (Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex) - It was a industrial site in Essen and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and on the European Route of Industrial Heritage. It was founded in 1847 and was a coal mine and coking plant. It closed in 1993.

Villa Hügel - a 19th century mansion built by Alfred Krupp between 1870-1873. It was the home to the Krupp family until after World War II. Today is houses the Kulturstiftung Ruhr (Ruhr Cultural Foundation), an art gallery, the historical archive of the Krupp Family, and a concert venue. 

Grillo-Theatre - A theatre named after industrialist Friedrich Grillo as he made the building possible. It opened in 1892. During the Second World War, it was badly damaged, but restored and reopened in 1950. 

Aalto Theatre - It is the home of the Aalto-Musiktheater (opera company), the Aalto Ballet, and the Essener Philharmoniker. It was designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto and started in 1983.