Frankfurt (Main)

Frankfurt - Potpourri Of Business And Culture

Frankfurt, a city in Germany, is often seen as a transit hub by business class people, but take some time to explore the city’s most spectacular skyline, its rich history and dynamic culture and soon visitors will find Frankfurt as a fantastic tourist destination.

Frankfurt is nicknamed as Mainhattan or Bankfurt for it played an important role in international finance since the medieval times. Frankfurt boasts of over 350 national and international banks. It is also the home of federal German Bank, the Bundesbank and the European bank giving the city a tag of financial hub or business center. Frankfurt is dominated by several towers, skyscrapers and at night illuminated neon lights add a special attraction to the city. Cutting-edge technology and modernism has transcended a big change to this city and made it the economic powerhouse of not only Germany but also the entire of Central Europe.

History

The mention of Frankfurt for the first time was in the 8^th century when Charlemagne’s court made a stop there and by 9^th century it became an important city. When Saxons defeated Charlemagne who was the king of Franks in the 8^th century, the king fled with his troops only to see his path blocked by the River Maine. A deer sprang out suddenly out of the forest and crossed the river by afford (Furt) and the defeated Franks followed the deer and escaped slaughter by the Saxons. Charlemagne then built a town to protect the ford and the town was then given the name Frankfurt.

The town had been a venue for the election and crowning of the German kings and Frankfurt became a free town in 1372 and a total of 10 kings and emperors were crowned within the dome after 1562. About 36 German emperors were elected in the city between 855 and 1792 and from 1502 these emperors were crowned in Frankfurt’s magnificent cathedral.

According to the document dating back from 1140 Frankfurt was described as a major trading town and in 1240 the city became a venue for annual trade fair. From 1330 spring trade fair also started to happen annually. In 1333 a new city wall with moats and fortresses was built and Zum Romer house was acquired for the use as town hall in 1405. The first book fair in Frankfurt was held in 1480.

In 1870-71, the founding of Second German Reich led to major economic boom in the city of Frankfurt and it was during that time that several bridges were built, sewage and water systems were installed and industrial enterprises founded. City icons such as the Alte Oper, Hauptbahnhof and Stadel were also erected. Unfortunately, expansion of Frankfurt engulfed many of the neighboring villages and towns.

Frankfurt was untouched by the World War II. The Nazis came to power on March 12^th 1933 and the deportation and extermination of the Jewish community began in 1941. During the latter years of the war, however, Frankfurt was bombed heavily by the allies. The bombing of the city ended when the American troops moved to Frankfurt on March 26, 1945. The city got a new face after the renovation followed the WWII. More than 150,000 flats, industrial complexes and high-raised buildings were built in the Banking Quarter.

Geography and Demography and Best time to visit Frankfurt

The city of Frankfurt is located on both sides of the Maine River. In the southern part of the city consists of the Frankfurt City Forest and also Germany’s largest urban forest. Frankfurt is the among the centers of Europe amongst Amsterdam, Paris, London and Milan.

The climate in Frankfurt is very temperate and summer months can be rainy and temperamental and winters are bleak and stormy. The winter season falls between the months of November and February with January being the coldest month. It is between the months of June to September that Frankfurt is great and it also happens to be the best time to visit the place. These months are hot but it is good because most of the actions shift outdoors be it the cafés or the bustling activities alongside the riverbanks.

A word of caution though; if you travel to Frankfurt during the trade fairs and expos the city becomes unreasonably expensive and too crowded to find in a comfortable accommodation.

Attractions Aplenty At Frankfurt

One of the major attractions of Frankfurt is the skyline showcasing tall buildings of Europe. The international trade fairs happening here make the city a magnet for tourists as well as the business communities. Main Tower in Frankfurt provides a great panoramic view and offers possibility to capture Frankfurt city in the reels of a camera. It is 200 meter tall and there is a public viewing deck that gives spectacular views of Frankfurt and its surroundings.

The historic center of Frankfurt Main should not be missed. Most of the old town was destroyed because of the bombings of 1944. But major attractions are in the square Romerberg with its originally restored houses and the historic town hall of Frankfurt, Romer.

Romer was the site of celebrations of election and coronation of emperors in the medieval times and right now it draws several people for special events such as the Christmas market.

Close to the Romer, Paulskirche Church is there. It is regarded as a symbol of German democracy; the first democratic constitution was set up here in 1848. The Sachsenhausen district located just across the River Maine is another worth visiting place. The district is an entertainment territory packed with restaurants, pubs and bars. One of the few remaining towers of the medieval fortification that surround the city of Frankfurt is the Eschenheimer Turm.

Palm Garden a botanical garden in Frankfurt administered by the University of Frankfurt is a place housing 300 different palms, a boating lake and glasshouses. Several concerts are staged here within the garden during summer and the garden also serves as a venue for exhibitions and business events.

Deutshes Filmmuseum is one of the Germany’s best film museums and it exhibits old films from its collection continuously. It is on the second floor of the museum that these films are played and the filmmaking history of Germany is exhibited in the ground stairs.

At Historisches Museum one can find at display, objects and works of art ranging from Middle Ages to present day. The museum exhibits a range of themes such as cultural history, art history and general history.

Stadel gallery is the city’s most important art gallery and a treat for art lovers. It consists of a fantastic collection of paintings of most European schools. First floor of the gallery displays the works of German and French impressionists of the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

Ostend zoo is another place to visit. The zoo was renovated after WW II bombing and spans over 14 hectares of land and is a home to thousands of animals from all over the world. There are about eight endangered species as well in the zoo. The main attraction of the zoo is the Grizmek House that houses specifically the nocturnal animals.

Cathedral of St. Bartholomew or Kaiserdom, a place for coronation of German emperors between 1562 and 1792 (Emperor Cathedral) is another recognizable landmark of Frankfurt with red sandstone facade and interior. The present cathedral was rebuilt but it contains a number of original carvings. Adjoining the cathedral there is Dommuseum that consists of ancient archaeological findings.

Activities? So many!

After a museum tour, architecture tour and walking tour take a cycle and pedal your way through the marked bike lanes to see Frankfurt easily and quickly. Tourists can enjoy swimming with a difference, as there are so many water-related activities such as water slides, pool diving, etc. It is inline skating that is the most popular attraction and has swept the people of Frankfurt as well the tourists off their feet. In fact, it has become officially recognized transport system in the city. The elite of the city enjoy playing golf.

Museum Quay Festival is a spectacular festival of art and culture on the banks of the River Maine. This festival is one of the popular festivals in Frankfurt with artists and musicians coming from all over the world to participate and perform.

The largest international book fair in the world is the Frankfurt book fair with more than 250,000 visitors. Frankfurt Christmas Market is one of the biggest and oldest fairs in Germany dating back to 14^th century.

Nightlife…

The city has a large student community and it means partying, wining and dining at its peak. The city has trendy wine bars and hotspots that are not only favorites with the locals but also with the tourists. Frankfurt has a number of friendly bars including Casablanca, Café Sonderbar and Balalaika.

Theaters, clubs, pubs and bars in Frankfurt provide enough for an upbeat nightlife here and one can party till dawn as there is no shortage of dance and trance clubs here.

Transportation

Frankfurt is the mother of all transport destinations. It is cars, trams and buses that outnumber people in Frankfurt. The public transport system here is a role model and consists of several carriers that utilize the same fare system. One ticket is valid for a journey that includes several types of transit run by different operators. The fares for travel are paid in advance at a ticket vending machine or onboard a bus. Ticket inspectors in plain clothes are employed and carry out the responsibility to ensure that the passengers have a ticket. Suburban rail service has trains with long distance passenger and cargo trains. Trams are also available in Frankfurt. Buses have a minor role in Frankfurt as the major routes are served by rail transportation. But there are several cross-town bus routes and they are also used as feeder services for the underground lines and operate night services. The main airport is the Frankfurt international airport and it is the largest airport in Europe. One can also hire cabs on the streets of Frankfurt.