BINGEN (ancient VINCUM or BINGIVM), town, Germany, in the province of Rhein-Hessen, in the Folk-State of Hesse Hesse Darmstadt, on the left bank of the Rhine, 15m. N.W. of Mainz. Pop. (1933) 14,085. The Romans erected a castellum here, and there remains a bridge of Roman origin over the Nahe. Bingen was a free town of the empire. A short way down the Rhine is the Bingerloch, a whirlpool whose fame helped the growth of the town. Many legends have gathered about this portion of the Rhine valley, and its romantic associations and beautiful scenery have made Bingen a famous tourist centre. There is also an important pilgrimage in August. The parish church dates from the 15th century, but has an II th century crypt. Commerce is in wine and spirits, and considerable transit trade is done by river.