Frankfurt is city of contrast where you will find side by side modern skyscrapers together with medieval architecture and museums. It is home to businesses, skyscrapers and one of the worlds most busiest airport – all of which are state of the art. This may be why Frankfurt has a certain fondness for a wide array of museums. After all, the city is always a little ahead of its time but likes to keep records of it too. When you think of Frankfurt, banks and the stock exchange are probably the first things to come to mind. And that’s not wrong. But it’s not all the city has to offer, as it also boasts an unrivalled wealth of museums. The museum embankment is a wonder to behold. The magnificent Städel Museum situated at the heart of Frankfurt’s museum mile is one of Germany’s preeminent art museums. It features masterpieces spanning nine centuries of European art, with the must-see underground extension housing a collection of works from 1945 onwards. The German Film Museum, Museum of Architecture and Schirn Kunsthalle art gallery are just three of the 60 or so other institutions, all of which focus on a different theme.
Frankfurt’s most famous son, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, is omnipresent in the city. You can retrace his footsteps all over the place, including the Goethe House. And with the New Old Town, Frankfurt has reconstructed a part of the district destroyed during World War II just a stone’s throw from the cathedral and the Römer City Hall, the city’s landmark. It wasa project of the century with picturesque prospects: 35 buildings, including 15 exact reconstructions, with shops and restaurants. From the New Old Town, it’s just a short walk to the banks of the Main River – the perfect place for a leisurely stroll. Or experience Frankfurt’s social and convivial side as you cross the iron footbridge and head towards the traditional bars serving Apfelwein cider.
The smallest district of Frankfurt with its idyllic location on the river Main is complete again. After years of construction work between the Römer and the cathedral, the project of theold town reconstruction was completed in 2017. Frankfurt’s old town is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. Here, they’ll have the chance to enjoy a coffee, a museum visit or a shopping spree, all the while basking in the aura of a time-honoured old town nestled in the heart of an international metropolis. The harmonious architectural mixture calls to mind the moving history of Frankfurt. The old town’s archaeological gardens feature the remnants of a former Roman settlement and an imperial palace dating back to Carolingian times, explained by way of a special video animation. Last but not least, there’s the so-called Coronation Route, which follows the footsteps of former kings and emperors to the place of their crowning.
The city’s first town hall was soon too small to accommodate the needs of this flourishing city. It was torn down in 1415 prior to commencement of construction on the cathedral tower. The city council was initially accorded the right to build a new town hall in 1329. Finally, in 1405, the council decided to buy two existing houses instead. These two houses, named “Römer” and “Goldener Schwan”, have served as the home of Frankfurt’s town hall ever since. Large halls were constructed on the ground level and made available for lease during trade fairs. The Kaisersaal, or “Emperor’s Hall”, was built around 1612. The town hall complex formerly comprised 13 buildings. There are equally many hypotheses as regards to the origin of the name. One of them states that the merchant who lived there until the building was purchased by the city transacted the majority of his business with Italy, and in particular, Rome.
Behind the historical façade of Frankfurt’s time-honoured Old Opera House lies one of the most outstanding concert halls in all of Germany and Europe. Visitors are offered a high-quality programme covering all musical genres, including classical music, jazz, blues, pop, rock as well as world-famous musicals and show productions. The congress section of the Alte Oper, that organizes around 50 events per year, enjoys a high reputation. Glamourous balls and international congresses take place in the
representative halls and salons of the building. The history of the house reaches back into the late 19th century: In October 1880, the building was constructed, following the plans of the Berlin architect Richard Lucae. The opening was celebrated with
Mozart’s Don Giovanni. After the destruction at the end of world war II, it took almost four decades until the so-called most beautiful ruin of Germany received it’s magnificent facade and the interior turned in to a modern concert hall, that finally solemnly reopened on 28 August 1981. There are so much more to discover in Frankfurt, read more about best destinations in the city in new free online book ,,The best of Frankfurt,,
