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Natural Monuments

World's Largest Sand Clock (Mainz Natural History Museum)

Natural Monuments

World's Largest Sand Clock (Mainz Natural History Museum)

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World's Largest Sand Clock (Mainz Natural History Museum)

Recommended by 25 hikers out of 29

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Location: Rhenish Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

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Best Hikes to World's Largest Sand Clock (Mainz Natural History Museum)

4.7

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2,277

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1. Rhine Riverside Promenade – Fastnachtsbrunnen Mainz loop from Mainz Hauptbahnhof

11.7km

03:00

40m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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4.6

(68)

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2. Mainz Altstadt – Fastnachtsbrunnen Mainz loop from Mainz Hauptbahnhof

10.9km

02:49

60m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.7

(26)

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3. Mainz Market Fountain – Mainz Market Square and Cathedral loop from Münchfeld

8.76km

02:16

50m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

PeterH

June 8, 2022

The largest and most accurate hourglass in the world.

Translated by Google •

Die_Ute

July 20, 2025

The world's largest hourglass, located in the Natural History Museum in Mainz, is a special landmark. It is not only the largest but also one of the most accurate hourglasses in the world.

The glass bulbs rotate every hour on the hour, controlled by a computer system. The hourglass is made of Duran borosilicate glass and is 5.2 meters high and one meter in diameter.

The hourglass, which originally stood on the town hall plateau, was later moved in front of the Natural History Museum. It was a gift from the Schott company and was briefly threatened with scrapping, but was restored and put back into operation.

The hourglass is a popular tourist destination and attracts many visitors.

The hourglass is not to be confused with the Wheel of Time in Budapest, which is also considered one of the largest hourglasses in the world, but runs for one year. The Mainz hourglass is a one-year hourglass and weighs one ton of sand. In summary, the hourglass in the Natural History Museum in Mainz is an impressive construction and a popular landmark of the city.

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꧁Wander-Woman꧂

September 20, 2025

Unfortunately, the “sand glass” is currently missing... perhaps because of the construction site next door to prevent damage?

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Details

Informations

Elevation 140 m

Weather

Saturday 20 December

9°C

4°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h

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See hikes here

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Location: Rhenish Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

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World's Largest Sand Clock (Mainz Natural History Museum)

1. Rhine Riverside Promenade – Fastnachtsbrunnen Mainz loop from Mainz Hauptbahnhof

2. Mainz Altstadt – Fastnachtsbrunnen Mainz loop from Mainz Hauptbahnhof

3. Mainz Market Fountain – Mainz Market Square and Cathedral loop from Münchfeld

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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