Frankfurt am Main - City of Contrasts

Germany's premier traffic and transport hub, is quickly and easily reached from numerous American ci

• 
  SAVE
• 
  SHARE
• 
  TEXT SIZE
• 
  PRINT
• 
  COMMENT
• 
  PDF

. November 12, 2009

NOVEMBER 10, 2009 - Frankfurt am Main, the metropolis in the heart of Europe, is characterised by a variety of interesting contrasts. Here, tradition and modernity, commerce and culture, activity and tranquillity are harmoniously juxtaposed. With international trade shows and finance on one side and an unusual art and cultural landscape on the other, Frankfurt am Main is a cosmopolitan city in the truest sense.

St. Paul's Church is renowned as the cradle of German democracy. It was here that, in 1848, the first German national congress convened to draw up the forerunner of Germany's modern constitution. Nearby, at the Emperor's Cathedral, kings and kaisers of former German empire were crowned as early as the Middle Ages.

The historical landmark of Frankfurt am Main is without a doubt the three-gabled façade of the “Römer”. This former patrician's house was chosen as Frankfurt's town hall way back in 1405, continuing to serve as the seat of the city's lord mayor to this day. At city hall, one also finds the so-called “Roman Halls”. This time-honoured venue, along with the “Römerberg” in front of city hall, was the site of trade fairs during mediaeval times. Today, the Römerberg stands at the heart of the historical old town, a popular sightseeing attraction for people from near and far.

Just a stone's throw away, one comes across the birthplace of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Frankfurt's favourite son, born here in 1749. A tour of the Goethe-House offers visitors many interesting insights into the life and times of Germany's most celebrated poet and author.

The Frankfurt Museum Embankment, meanwhile, is a cultural landscape unparalleled in all of Europe. Here, museums stand side by side along the majestic River Main like so many pearls on a string. Featuring a first-class assortment of exhibition houses such as the Museum of Applied Arts, the German Architecture Museum, the German Film Museum and the renowned Städel Museum, Frankfurt's museum embankment is truly second to none.

Frankfurt's wide range of accommodation establishments is equally diverse. Some 200 hotels, including 13 luxury and 46 first-class hotels, have established themselves in Frankfurt am Main over the years, with many others set scenically in the surrounding region.

Frankfurt's reputation as a metropolis also extends to its manifold shopping opportunities. All significant international labels are represented in Frankfurt am Main, providing the discerning shopper with a wide as well as exclusive product range. The “Zeil”, located in the heart of downtown Frankfurt, is one of Germany's most profitable and popular shopping promenades. Here, department stores and retail chains of every variety attract visitors to a leisurely spree amongst rows and rows of beautiful sycamore trees. The brand-new “MyZeil” shopping galleria, for example, offers over 52,000 square metres of retail space on its very own. The consumer world's most exclusive international designer boutiques, meanwhile, are only a short walk away, on the very posh Goethestrasse.

Being a city of short distances, nearly all of Frankfurt's major sightseeing attractions and shopping districts are within walking distance. Moreover, the city's public transportation system is very well developed and easy to use. The Frankfurt Card provides visitors with free and unlimited travel on all buses, subways, trams and commuter trains servicing the city districts, while also offering reduced-price admission to various museums as well as discounts on river cruises, motorised city tours and at numerous retail stores and restaurants. The Frankfurt Card is available at our tourist information offices and most hotels.

Frankfurt's culinary offerings are as internationally diverse as the city itself. The Main metropolis is home to people representing over 170 countries, a fact that is mirrored in the city's vast array of fine foods and restaurants. Youthful and trendy eateries, traditionally elegant gourmet restaurants, cosy cafes and timeless bistros - Frankfurt has something for every taste and every pocketbook. And there's room for the more traditional side as well. For over 250 years, Frankfurt apple wine has been the locals' beverage of choice. The enjoyment of this cider-like beverage brings of all ages and walks of life together at the same table. An evening at one of the city's traditional apple wine pubs is the quintessence of Frankfurt “Gemuetlichkeit”.

Finally, at the end of the year, Frankfurt am Main shows itself from its most festive side. The famous Frankfurt Christmas Market, one of the oldest and most traditional in all of Germany, is an absolute must-see! Featuring an old-world setting and a colourful variety of Christmastime activities, including the tower horns and carillon on the balcony of St. Nicholas Church, the children's choirs and the chiming of the church bells, Frankfurt's Christmas market attracts over three million visitors to the Main metropolis each and every year.

Contact: Jasmin Bischoff Frankfurt Tourist+Congress Board, Kaiserstr. 56, 60329 Frankfurt, Germany Tel.: +49 (0) 69 / 21 23 41 37 Fax +49 (0) 69 / 21 23 78 80, E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.frankfurt-tourismus.de