Museum of Natural History, Mainz

The Natural History Museum of Mainz, located in Rhineland-Palatinate, is the largest museum of its kind in the region, offering a deep dive into biology and Earth sciences. Housed in the historic Reichclara Monastery (Reichklarakloster), a former convent founded in 1272, the museum not only preserves scientific heritage but also promotes respect for the diversity of nature and humanity’s shared history. Among its most notable displays are fossils discovered in Rhineland-Palatinate, including primeval horses from 44 million years ago, and an impressive collection of Ice Age fauna.

The collection includes rare tracks of dinosaurs and insects from the Permian Period on the Rhine. The museum also owns more than 20,000 ice-age animals: lions, jaguars, wolves, hippos, elks, saber-toothed cats, and quaggas who inhabited the area half a million years ago.

One of the museum’s globally recognized highlights is its rare quagga group—three specimens of the extinct zebra subspecies, a remarkable feat considering only 23 such exhibits exist worldwide. The museum also features a partnership with Rwanda, enriching its collections with a cross-continental perspective since 1982.

As an inclusive educational institution, the museum is making significant efforts to become fully accessible. While many areas are already wheelchair-accessible, further renovations are underway to ensure the entire facility is free of barriers. Visitors can also enjoy lectures and temporary exhibitions that complement the museum’s permanent displays, offering a chance to explore specialized topics in greater depth.