Picture the Stadioner Hof. It stands proudly on GroBe Bleiche a testament to Mainz’s rich history. This magnificent Baroque palace wasn’t always known by that name. Initially conceived as the Rollingscher Hof between 1728 and 1733 it was the first Baroque palace of its kind in Mainz’s Bleichenviertel.
Lothar Franz von Rollingen the building’s original owner received tax exemptions from the Elector for this impressive structure. The Elector recognized the beauty and the significance it would bring to the city. Imagine the privilege of having such a grand building tax-free. The palace’s current name Stadioner Hof however comes from Count Friedrich von Stadion-Thannhausen. He purchased the building in 1737 from the financially strained original owner. The family crest of Stadion-Sickingen is still visible on the front gable today a lasting mark of its ownership.
The Stadioner Hof’s architect Anselm Franz von Grünsteyn also designed many other important buildings in Mainz. His understanding of contemporary French architecture clearly influenced the palace’s design. The two main floors and a smaller upper floor were originally topped with a mansard roof. This was altered during post-World War II reconstruction. A mezzanine and a hip roof replaced the original. The building’s understated central section is enhanced by a balcony. Six richly decorated heads support the balcony.
Initially a private residence the Stadioner Hof served various purposes over the centuries. During French rule it functioned as housing for government commissioners. From 1802 to 1814 it housed the French justice system. It even temporarily accommodated the Mainz Fortress Governor’s office in 1818 before that moved to Osteiner Hof. For almost 70 years beginning in 1819 it housed the Mainz Fortress command. After that it returned to private hands with businesses operating on the ground floor. Since 1923 a bank has occupied parts of the Stadioner Hof.
World War II significantly damaged the palace. The post-war reconstruction was extensive. The original mansard roof was not rebuilt. However the gable featuring the Stadion family crest was meticulously restored in 1993/94. Today the Stadioner Hof continues to stand as a symbol of Mainz’s resilience and architectural heritage. Its history is far richer and more varied than it appears at first glance. It is a silent witness to centuries of Mainz history.