With 307.000 inhabitants Mannheim is the second largest city in the state of Baden-Württemberg after the capital Stuttgart.

Mannheim, situated at the confluence of the rivers Rhine and Neckar, is home to the second largest river port in Germany.

Mannheim is unique among German cities in that its central area is laid out in a grid pattern, much like many Northern American cities.

In the year 2007 Mannheim celebrates its 400-year city anniversary.

Karl Benz invented and drove the world’s first car in Mannheim in 1885. Earlier still in 1817, Karl Drais invented and rode the first two-wheeled contraption called velocipede – the predecessor of the bicycle.

The singer Xavier Naidoo who was born in Mannheim in 1971 has established an entirely new music style: German soul. He has thus helped put Mannheim on Germany’s music map.

Steffi Graf, considered one of the greatest women’s tennis players of all times, was born in Mannheim in 1969. She won 22 Grand Slam titles, more than any other player, male or female, and is now married to Andre Agassi.