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Mannheim is a city where ideas were not only conceived but also put to the test. It was here that the dream of the automobile took shape, here that the bicycle was developed, here that the first electric elevator rose to new heights—and here that “spaghetti ice cream” was invented, a treat that almost everyone knows to this day.
The Mannheim Inventors’ Tour showcases a city brimming with inventive spirit: in technology, music, science, cuisine, and in surprisingly entertaining ways. Following in the footsteps of Carl Benz, Karl Drais, Werner von Siemens, Heinrich Lanz, Dario Fontanella, and other figures from Mannheim’s history, you’ll discover why ideas that had an impact far beyond the city’s borders were born in the “City of Squares.”
Mannheim, more than almost any other city, is synonymous with practical ideas that have had a major impact. In 1817, Karl Drais rode his running bike from Mannheim to Rheinau; in 1880, Werner von Siemens unveiled the first electric elevator in Mannheim; and Carl Benz made the dream of the automobile a reality with his motor car.
But this Mannheim Inventors’ Tour doesn’t just tell the story of technology. It shows how Mannheim has repeatedly been a source of new ideas: for mobility, agriculture, music, weather observation, technical safety, architecture, shipping, and even the ice map. After all, spaghetti ice cream is also one of Mannheim’s famous stories: Dario Fontanella developed it in Mannheim in 1969 using a chilled spaetzle press.
The tour begins and ends at the Carl Benz Monument—a fitting location for a city tour that showcases Mannheim as a city of mobility. Carl Benz is known for the horseless carriage, Karl Drais for the walking machine—the precursor to the bicycle—Werner von Siemens for the electric elevator, and Heinrich Lanz for the famous Lanz Bulldog.
The Lanz Bulldog became a symbol of agricultural mechanization and a name known far beyond Mannheim. As the tour shows, Mannheim was not just the setting for individual inventions, but a laboratory for mobility, machinery, transportation, safety, and practical ideas for everyday life.
“Made in Mannheim” doesn’t just mean engines, bicycles, and machinery. Mannheim has also made history in music: The Mannheim School shaped the development of European music; today, Mannheim is a UNESCO City of Music.
The Mannheim File is also one of the topics covered on this tour. It symbolizes free navigation on the Rhine. The “Mannheim Hours” refer to fixed weather observation times that Johann Jakob Hemmer established for an international monitoring network. The Mannheim Symmetry demonstrates that Mannheim’s creativity is also reflected in its architecture and cityscape.
Added to that are stories that guests love to pass on: the origins of the TÜV in Mannheim, the sweet treat known as “Mannheimer Dreck,” the Mannheim Midwifery School, and, of course, spaghetti ice cream.
This tour is not a dry lecture on technology. It combines great inventions with the city’s history, anecdotes, and surprising connections. Those who join the tour will come to understand Mannheim as a city of ideas: a place where progress, curiosity, trade, migration, craftsmanship, industry, and everyday life are closely intertwined.
Terms such as the Mannheim School, the Mannheim File, Mannheim symmetry, Mannheim hours, and Mannheim inventions are clearly explained and contextualized. This paints a picture of the city that goes far beyond its classic sights.
This themed city tour is ideal for groups who want to experience Mannheim from an unusual perspective: companies, technical professionals, school classes, cultural travelers, clubs, tour groups, and private groups.
For companies, the tour is a great addition to company outings, conferences, or incentive trips because it combines innovation, change, and inventiveness with the city’s history. For school groups, it offers connections to technology, mobility, history, music, economics, and social change.
Carl Benz Monument (Google Maps)
On this guided walking tour of Mannheim, you’ll enjoy a clear itinerary, easy-to-follow explanations, and lively stories about the city. On this “Inventors’ Tour,” you’ll experience Mannheim as a city of ideas, with stories about mobility, technology, music, shipping, weather observation, architecture, cuisine, and practical ideas for everyday life.
Upon request, we offer this city tour in various foreign languages. We charge an additional fee of €20 for this service. Please let us know your preferred language when you make your request.
Mannheim has given rise to ideas that have transformed transportation, music, technology, shipping, weather observation, and even ice mapping. This city tour turns all of this into a lively group experience: informative, surprising, and easy to plan.
Please send us your preferred date, group size, and any special interests. We’ll determine the best way to accommodate your request and tailor the tour to your group.
