140 pages, 211 photographs, book format of 24cm x 30cm

Frankfurt's imposing skyline and its magnificent museum landscape make the metropolis on the River Main a mecca of modern architecture. Frankfurt has been one of Germany's most important urban centres since the High Middle Ages. The hometown of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Germany's most famous poet and author, is also the cradle of German democracy, having in 1848 hosted the country's first national assembly at St Paul's Church. Today, Frankfurt attracts people from all across the globe, who come here for international trade fairs and banking transactions, later in the day meeting up again at the cosy and rustic apple wine pubs of the time-honoured city district of Old Sachsenhausen.

Frankfurt is of course much more than the home of international trade fairs, world finance and one of the world's busiest airports. Although the city's churches have lost their dominance in terms of imagery and social significance, they nevertheless point to a rich and colourful past, particularly St Bartholomew's Cathedral and St Leonhard's Church, Frankfurt's second-oldest place of worship. Many of the buildings of the city centre feature the traditional beige sandstone, such as Frankfurt's main train station and stock exchange. The warm red colour of the Main sandstone, meanwhile, characterises the buildings on the Römerberg, Frankfurt's time-honoured old town centre.

Frankfurt's museum landscape is equally fascinating. Set side by side like pearls on a string, the city's museums line the southern bank of the River Main majestically. The tree-lined promenade features countless German museums of international renown, including the Museum of Applied Arts, the German Architecture Museum, the Liebieghaus, the German Film Museum and the world-famous Städel Art Museum. Frankfurt's stage scene is equally impressive, featuring theatre, ballet and opera of the highest order. Those looking to find rest and relaxation have countless public parks and gardens at their disposal, such as the Palmengarten or the Botanical Gardens, just to name a few.

The book's photographers, Tina and Horst Herzig, live in nearby Bensheim, working as freelance photographers and designers. Verlagshaus Würzburg has published many of their picture books, including ones on London, Paris, France, Cornwall, Great Britain and Luxemburg as well as a number of image calendars. Their publications also include various books on German landscapes.

Author:
Kerstin Wegmann studied psychology, American studies and English studies in Würzburg and London. She has been living and working in Frankfurt for several years. She admits to being fascinated by Frankfurt's metropolitan flair, its cosmopolitan attitudes and the cosy and rustic atmosphere of its city districts, which combine tradtion and modernity in happy juxtaposition.