Mannheim is a beautiful city in the southwestern part of Germany. It is located at the centre of the larger densely populated Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region and is Germany’s eighth-largest metropolitan region. The streets between the Neckar River and the palace have been laid out in a grid formation since the 17th century, making Mannheim resemble a chessboard. Various attractions, art, good food, events, and parties can be found on these streets. The National Theatre in Mannheim offers operas, plays, and ballets of all styles, classical and pop concerts, readings, and a wide variety of other cultural events.
Mannheim evolved into a flourishing cultural centre with a school for conductors, violinists, composers, a gallery, and an academy of sciences. The construction of Mannheim’s Rhine harbor in 1834 stimulated economic growth, and by 1900 the city was industrialized. More than half of the city was destroyed during World War II, but most of its important buildings have been rebuilt. Today Mannheim is one of Europe’s largest inland ports, and its trade in coal and iron is of particular economic importance. The products manufactured are medical instruments and supplies, electrical equipment and instruments (including microelectronic components and systems), pollution-abatement equipment, chemicals, fertilizer, and food.
Here are some cool vintage photos by Klaus Hiltscher that show Mannheim in the 1970s.
