Gau-Bischofsheim is a winegrowing village on Mainz’s southern outskirts. In the local speech the village is called Bischem. The municipality has been characterized by first being so near Mainz and also by the in parts outstanding location of the vineyards. The area under winegrowing cultivation is 76 ha. The Prince-Bishops of Mainz had their wine estates here for time out of mind. Some of the wineries bear witness to this tradition. In more recent times, proximity to Frankfurt, Wiesbaden and Mainz has led to considerable growth in Gau-Bischofsheim. A great number of clubs guide people into working towards the common good. The municipality belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Bodenheim, whose seat is in the like-named municipality.
The municipality’s location at the foot of the intersection of the eastern and southern slopes of the last rise in the Rhine Terrace sees to it that the climate is pleasant and sunny with below-average rainfall, without being affected by the drawbacks of the Rhine Basin’s limited air circulation. From Gau-Bischofsheim there is a good view all the way to Frankfurt and into the Odenwald. The slope in the north and west shields against strong winds and guarantees good wine.
The municipality's arms might be described thus: Per fess abased, argent two bendlets gules and gules a demi-wheel spoked of three of the first; Wheel of Mainz.
The partnership, or twinning, with Liernais in Burgundy is maintained as a token of German-French friendship. Gau-Bischofsheim also has an official partnership arrangement with the Franconian town of Bischofsheim an der Rhön.
Culture and sightseeing
[edit]Unterhof in Gau-BischofsheimGau-Bischofsheim from the west
In the centre of the village lies the Unterhof, a former manor in which are now found the municipal administration, the community centre and the Unterhofkeller (wine cellar). The inner courtyard, sheltered by a huge, ancient oak, offers an ideal venue for summertime festivals and cultural events.
A particular jewel in the parish church is the famous Geissel organ by Johann Peter Geissel, the oldest organ in the Bishopric of Mainz, which was in Saint Christopher's Church in Mainz until 1773. Regular organ recitals with international artists are among the cultural highlights in village life.
Gau-Bischofsheim's old railway station (today a youth meeting centre)
The main festivals are Carnival (locally known as Fastnacht) and the kermis (church consecration festival, locally known as the Kerb), in which from Monday to Friday a great part of the village takes part.
On Wednesdays from 14:00 to 18:00, under the motto vorbeischau’n, babbele, oikaafe (“Look in, have a chat, shop” in dialectal German) since May 2005 there has been a weekly market at the Unterhof.
From 28 September 1896 to 31 May 1985 the Amiche railway line (Alzey-Bodenheim) ran through Gau-Bischofsheim. Today, the tracks have been torn up and the Amiche Cycle Path has been built over parts of the old trackbed. It does not follow the old alignment exactly. The fully signposted cycle path follows the old railway most closely between Bodenheim and Undenheim. From Undenheim on, though, the signposts then guide cyclists onto the path's continuation along the likewise abandoned railway, known as the Valtinche railway, to Nierstein. Coming thence back to the starting point at Bodenheim, the way is identical to the Rheinterrassen-Radweg (Rhine Terrace Cycle Path) and the Rhein-Radweg (Rhine Cycle Path). On the other hand, if one wants to stay on the Amiche path, one must follow the signposts from Undenheim for the Selztal-Radweg (Selz Valley Cycle Path) to Alzey.
Liernais, Côte-d'Or, France since 1978
Bischofsheim an der Rhön, Rhön-Grabfeld, Bavaria since 2004
