City of finance in the heart of Germany
Many people in Germany think of Manhattan when they see the skyline of Frankfurt and so the metropolis at the river Main has been christened “Mainhattan”. As home of the headquarters of many banks and as the seat of the German stock exchange, Frankfurt is an important centre of finance. But it is also famous for trade fairs and its airport is one of the biggest in Europe. However, Frankfurt it also the place where Goethe was born. Moreover, it is a symbol for democracy and Germany’s national unity.
Frankfurt has 685.172 inhabitants (2013) and is one of those cities where tradition exists along with modern age. The Maintower, opened in 2000, is the perfect place to get an impression of this fascinating city.
Frankfurt was mentioned for the first time in written documents in the year 794. During the late Middle Ages it was a free imperial town and until 1806 also electoral coronation town of the Roman-German emperors. Frankfurt’s famous city hall, called Römer, is located on the Römerberg, the hill of the Romans, from where the mayors ruled the fate of the city for more than 600 years. Faithfully restaurated half-timbered buildings still can give an idea of how this old city centre once must have looked like.
Other places of interest are found in close vicinity. For example, Goethe's house which was also reconstructed true to the original, offers information about the life and work of the famous author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The Imperial Cathedral has a tower of 95 metre height. Since 1356 ten German emperors had been crowned in this church. St. Paul's Church is regarded as „the cradle of German democracy“ and stages an impressive exhibition on history beginning in the year 1848. Since 1981 the reconstructet Old Opera Frankfurt stages over 300 national and international concerts and events per year. The big hall offers seat for 2,450 persons and has an excellent acoustic. Mozart hall has 720 seats for symphony and chamber concerts.
At the Museum Strand nine famous museums are located on both shores of river Main. Art lovers will love it there. Both permanent and changing excellent exhibitions can be seen at: Museum of Giersch, Liebieghaus Sculpture Collection, Städelsches Art Institute / Urban Gallery (Städel), Museum of Communication, German Museum of Architecture, German Film Museum, Museum of World Cultures / Gallery 37, Museum of Applied Art, Icon Museum and Endowment Dr. Schmidt-Voigt.
Finally, Alt-Sachsenhausen offers substantial Hessian food, for example rib with white cabbage and a glass of cider. If you want to get a place at one of the long tables in an "Äppelwoikneipe" (cider restaurant), book a table in advance or come very early.
Both Palmengarten (Botanic Garden) and the Frankfurt Zoo are welcome places for lovers of nature and animals. But also Frankfurt‘s airport is worth a visit.
More information: http://www.frankfurt.de/sixcms/detail.php?id=stadtfrankfurt_eval01.c.317693.en&template=hp_flash
Photos: Alte Oper, Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock
