On 13 September 2026, the Leibniz Institute of European History (IEG) will open the doors of its historic listed building, the Domus Universitatis, as part of Germany’s nationwide Open Monument Day (Tag des offenen Denkmals), held this year under the theme “Networks: Monuments & Infrastructure”.
Built between 1615 and 1618 as part of the former University of Mainz, the Domus Universitatis originally housed the Faculty of Philosophy, the Faculty of Theology, and the Jesuit college. Following destruction in the eighteenth and twentieth centuries, the Renaissance building was rebuilt several times and continues to shape Mainz’s historic cityscape.
Since 1950, the Domus Universitatis has been home to the Leibniz Institute of European History, which has been a member of the Leibniz Association since 2012. This year’s Open Monument Day theme, “Networks”, is also reflected in the Institute’s work. Networks are the focus of numerous research projects, exploring religious, political, and transnational connections, while at the same time forming an essential part of everyday academic life at the IEG. Researchers from around the world come together here to exchange ideas and develop international collaborations. The Domus Universitatis therefore remains a place where knowledge is created, shared, and communicated.
From 11:00 a.m., visitors can enjoy a varied programme including short talks by researchers, guided tours of the historic building, a curator-led tour of the exhibition on the Institute’s history, film screenings about the history of the site, and coffee and cake in the Institute garden. Discover the Domus Universitatis and more than 400 years of scholarship and academic tradition.
The full programme is available in the flyer on the right-hand side of this page and on the website of the German Foundation for Monument Protection (Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz).
Please register for the programme by email at veranstaltungen@ieg-mainz.de.
