Gutenbergplatz, Central square with bronze monument in Mainz, Germany.
Gutenbergplatz is a central square in Mainz featuring a bronze monument dedicated to the inventor of the printing press at its center. The statue, created by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen in 1837, depicts him wearing formal attire and a long beard.
The square was established in 1804 when Napoleon ordered its creation as part of making Mainz the capital of the Mont-Tonnerre department under French rule. This redesign transformed the city's layout during the period of French administration.
The monument reflects the city's deep connection to the printer who changed how books were made and spread knowledge. Visitors walking around the square encounter this celebration of an inventor whose work shaped the modern world.
The square is marked by the 50th parallel north, indicated by metal tracks and bronze lettering embedded in the ground, which serves as a geographic reference point. This feature helps visitors understand their exact latitude and provides an interesting orientation detail.
The bronze figure depicts the inventor with a long beard and formal clothing, even though no authentic images of him actually survive from his lifetime. Thorvaldsen created the statue based on assumptions about what he might have looked like.
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