Zahlbach was the first suburb of Mainz to be incorporated into the city. The sheep pastures at the Römersteine still give the area a rural character in the middle of the city.

In Roman times, an aqueduct ran through the Zahlbach or Zaybach valley, carrying water from Finthen and Drais to the legionary camp on the Kästrich. A walk around the remains of the aqueduct can be an exciting journey through history.

The Wildgrabental valley on the edge of Mainz's Bretzenheim district is not far from the Zahlbachtal valley. Following renovation work in recent years, it has become a scenic gem—the renaturation of the valley has been more than successful: where a concrete drainage channel once cut through the valley, a small, natural-looking stream now winds its way through the fields. Between the meadows and fields in the valley are areas of water and small and large boulders.

Although the Wildgrabental area is not particularly large and, depending on the wind direction, the noise from the highway feeder road can be heard, this does not detract from the recreational value of the curved valley. With its natural colors and sparkling water surfaces, it offers a wide range of recreational opportunities: jogging, cycling, walking, and relaxing.

Those who are more interested in cultural history will find the nearby old brickworks and brick museum just a short distance away. Ludwig Anselm Rosbach founded the brickworks back in 1900. In the past, around 30,000 bricks were produced on the site every day, but today this industrial monument is an educational, leisure, and cultural center. Visitors can also enjoy some wonderful "local recreation" on the green brickworks grounds.