During Kaiser Wilhelm II's reign Mannheim's city fathers gave in to citizens' demands for the construction of a grand new festival hall. It was to be one of the largest and most beautiful (and most technologically advanced) of its kind in the whole of Germany, nestled in an ensemble of impressive Art Nouveau buildings (which for the most part may still be admired on the Friedrichsplatz).

The Art Noveau Rosengarten building in the heart of Mannheim was based on Berlin architect Bruno Schmitz’ award-winning designs and inaugurated in the year 1903. It is still one of Europe’s most important congress centres.

It was not long before the Rosengarten played host to a wide variety of diverse events: sumptuous concerts, major international seminars, trade fairs and exhilarating festivals attended by nternational nobility. Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss and Wilhelm Furtwängler appeared there. The foundations for Germany's SPD party and modern trades unions were also laid here.

Pioneers of Germany's scientific community, aeronautical and fashion industries met here - attracted by Mannheim's hospitality, innovative spirit, beautiful buildings and the impressive Rosengarten Nibelungensaal which was destroyed during the Second World War.

The m:con Congress Center Rosentgarten is still a highly popular congress and meetings venue today for many of those same reasons - whether for key international scientific conventions, political party conferences, annual general meetings of international corporations or for elegant balls, live concert performances in the Mozartsaal by international stars such as Anne-Sophie Mutter, Alfred Brendel, Sting or Simply Red.