Frankfurt, a multifaceted Metropolis

Situated in the heart of Europe, Frankfurt is a city of many contrasts. It is a place of tradition and modernity, commerce and culture, activity and tranquillity. Frankfurt is known to be Europe’s smallest metropolis, a moniker it gained thanks to its high degree of internationality. Home to one of the world’s leading trade fairs, numerous global banks and businesses, a range of renowned cultural establishments and an international airport that connects it with the rest of the world, Frankfurt is a global player in every sense.

Frankfurt/Main (tcf). Frankfurt’s colourful history goes back many, many years. Official documentation tells of an imperial congress of great European significance being held in “franconofurd” on 22^nd February 794, summoned by none other than the great emperor, Charlemagne. Back then, the region was part of the kingdom of Franconia, and thus, the place was given the name of Frankfurt, the “ford of the Franks”.

The city on the River Main remained a place of great political significance. In 1356, Frankfurt Cathedral was chosen as the official electoral site of German kings. Some 200 years later, the same venue began to serve as the coronation site of German emperors. The festive banquets held in honouf of the new emperor traditionally ook place at Emperors’ Hall in the time-honoured Römer. Today, the three-gabled façade of Frankfurt’s town hall ranks amongst the best-known landmarks of the city. Fairs and markets were held here, in the Römerhallen” (“Roman Halls”) and on the surrounding Römerberg, as far back as the Middle Ages. Today, the Römerberg is the beating heart of the historical old town; it is also one of the city’s most popular sightseeing attractions. In January 2011, Petra Roth, then lord mayor of Frankfurt, laid the foundation for the “new” old town. Over the coming years, the quarter around the Römerberg will be reconstructed according to the historical plans.

Just a short walk from the Römerberg, one finds St Paul’s Church, where Germany’s first national assembly met in 1848. Ever since that monumental occasion, St Paul’s Church has been known as the “cradle of German democracy”.

There is much to discover in Frankfurt, not only for fans of history, but also for lovers of fine art. The city’s unique museum embankment underlines the cultural significance of the metropolis on the Main. Famous across the globe, the location combines a sophisticated cultural offer with elaborate architectural design. Several of the 19^th-century museum buildings have had their cores removed, receiving new interiors more oriented to the purpose of displaying fine art. Their old façades, however, have remained unchanged and characterise the riverfront as in times of old. Two of the most internationally renowned museums of Frankfurt’s magnificent museum scene are the Städel Museum and the Museum of Modern Art (MMK).

Friends of the performing arts, meanwhile, appreciate Frankfurt for its superb selection of stages. Oper Frankfurt, for example, has been crowned Germany’s best opera house on a number on occasions, while Schauspiel Frankfurt impresses its audiences with groundbreaking theatre performances. The latter presents modern works as well as time-honoured classics, including many a drama penned by Frankfurt’s favourite son, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Established in 1914 as Germany’s first publically funded university, Frankfurt’s premier institution of tertiary learning also takes the great poet’s name. True to its namesake, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University is one of the country’s most respected places of higher learning. For those who didn’t know, Germany’s most famous scribe came into this world in Frankfurt on 28^th August 1749, spending his childhood and youth in the city on the Main. His birthplace, known as the Goethe-House, ranks among Frankfurt’s most popular sightseeing attractions. Together with the adjacent Goethe Museum, it is a must-see for all Goethe fans.

Goethe is of course not the only Frankfurt native to have left a lasting impression on the world stage. Another famous Frankfurter is Heinrich Hoffmann, the creator of “Shock-Haired Peter and many other popular children’s characters. A museum in the city’s West End district pays tribute to this famous psychiatrist, lyric poet and children’s book author.

The city’smost famous feature is no doubt its skyline. Frankfurt’s premier landmark is a symbol of its prosperity and its focus on the future. Despite the recent ups and downs in global finance, the skyline of the Main metropolis continues to grow. Most of its high-rises serve as office towers for national and international banks. Not surprising, really, Frankfurt being the home of Germany’s premier stock exchange as well as the German Bundesbank and the European Central Bank. These establishments, together with the many banks headquartered here, make Frankfurt the leading financial centre in all of Germany.

Traffic and transport also play a major role in Frankfurt. FrankfurtAirport is one of the world’s largest, while the city’s main train station is amongst the busiest in Germany. And if that’s not enough, Frankfurt’s motorway interchange is also the country’s busiest autobahn junction. All of these factors make Frankfurt easy to reach from all across the globe. Organisers of international congresses and travellers from across the globe value Frankfurt’s advantage of location. In a nationwide comparison, Frankfurt consistently records the largest percentage of overseas tourists and business travellers.

Its ease of accessibility and convenient location in the heart of Europe have made Frankfurt one of the oldest German marketplacesnorth of the Alps. Its history as an internationalfairground dates back to 1240, when Frederick II bestowed upon Frankfurt the imperial fair privilege. Today’s fairgrounds are located in the western part of the city. Here, the Frankfurt Fair & Exhibition Centre hosts large-scale trade shows in more than ten exhibition halls spanning some 475,000 square metres. The most famous of the fairs held here are the Frankfurt Book Fair and the International Motor Show (IAA). Frankfurt is also home to a wide variety of first-class event locations. One of newest and most modern – Kap Europa – opened its doors in June 2014. This state-of-the-art venue is the world’s first congress centre to be sustainability-certified with the gold standard.

Frankfurt is also a superb shopping destination, one that needn’t fear comparison with any other European metropolis. MyZeil, Skyline Plaza, Goethestraße, Brückenstraße and Kleinmarkthalle are names that all consumers should remember. And then there’s the Zeil, Frankfurt’s premier pedestrian promenade, known to be Germany’s most profitable shopping street. Here, shoppers will find international labels, independent designer ware and exclusive luxury brands.

At the end of their shopping spree, visitors are urged to turn in at one of the many traditional apple wine pubs situated in the going-out district of Sachsenhausen. Rest and relaxation of a slightly different kind may be found in the city’s many scenic parks and gardens, as well as down along the banks of the River Main. The Palmengarten and Frankfurt Zoo are two further places of peace and serenity, having provided locals and visitors with scenic surrounds and a breath of fresh air for over 140 years. Finally, there’s Frankfurt’s popular GreenBelt, which forms a green circle around the city while offering a range of excellent day-trip destinations. From sand dunes and forests to playgrounds and sculptures, there is much for hikers and cyclists to discover here.

During the summer months, countless street festivals lure both young and old outside to revel beneath skies of blue. The Museum Embankment Festival is the largest and most popular of these outdoor celebrations, attracting visitors from far and wide. In winter, walks across the time-honoured Frankfurt Christmas Market on the Römerberg are a great way to take in the festive holiday atmosphere.

Frankfurt is also the ideal starting point for trips into the surrounding region. Whether travelling by car, public transport or river cruise ship, day-trippers are guaranteed to reach their destination quickly and easily. Scenic low mountain ranges, historical cities like Heidelberg, Wiesbaden and Mainz and the nearby Rheingau wine-growing region with its castles and rolling vineyards are all less than an hour’s travel away.

Contact:

Frankfurt Tourist+Congress Board
Elena Holschier-Rupprecht
Kaiserstraße 56
60329 Frankfurt/Main
Phone: +49 (0) 69 / 21 24 30 10
 E-mail: rupprecht@infofrankfurt.de