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Frankfurt In 24 HoursThis financial center offers much more than banks and international trade fairs. Here are some suggestions for a quick tour that covers the city’s most notable sights.Germans call it “Bankfurt.” Planes loaded with business travelers land here, the European Central Bank and 313 commercial banks have their headquarters here, stockbrokers put their necks on the line here, big European fairs unfold and copious amounts of money are handled here. Frankfurt isn’t known as a tourist attraction, cosmopolitan city or cultural center, but it is worth getting to know. Business will always be business: if you are doing yours in Frankfurt, why not take a whirlwind tour of the town? First Things First Go to Römerberg Square in the heart of the city and buy an inexpensive, official map of downtown from the tourist information office. This map shows everything worth visiting, eyeing and eating, and all the sites are accessible by foot. Frankfurt is a fairly walkable city, and the highlights are easily accessible. Römerberg No one will ever believe you were in Frankfurt if you don’t visit the area that houses the city’s municipal government. The medieval facades and old homes bring to mind the Brothers Grimm. But don’t be too impressed. A large part of the original square went up in flames during the WWII bombings, so what you see today was rebuilt 55 years ago. All the same, this square is steeped in history. It was the site of the first trade fairs among merchants during the Middle Ages, and until the end of the Holy Roman Empire, emperors were crowned just yards away at Kaiser Cathedral. Kaiserdom The Kaiser Cathedral is worth a quick visit, especially to see the gothic paintings with scenes from the life of Jesus. If relics interest you, take a peek at the skull of Saint Bartholomew, the cathedral’s patron saint. Modern Art Museum From the cathedral, walk one and a half blocks north along Domstrasse until you reach a building that looks like a big slice of cake. If names like David Reed or Joseph Beuys ring a bell, you are welcome to worship at the temple of postmodern art. For those of us who are not so keen on installations, the architecture is interesting and still worth seeing, although I must admit some of the works here left me a bit wonky. Goethe House From the museum, a fifteen-minute walk west along Berlinerstrasse will take you to Grosser Hirschgraben. Make your way to number 23, birthplace of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the genius of German literature. Although the house was rebuilt after WWII, the rooms are in their original condition. You can see the puppet theater that appeared in several Goethe works and the desk where he wrote the first part of Faust. Absolutely not to be missed! Take a Break Walk two minutes north along Grosser Hirschgraben to the recently remodeled Goethe Square, the ideal place to sit and reflect on the striking contrast between poetry and finance. If you would rather chew on something less theoretical, walk five more minutes along Rossmarkt Street to the Hauptwache Café, a baroque building that was formerly a military garrison/prison and the setting for pro-republican revolts. At lunchtime and after work, the terrace is packed with handsome thirtysomething men in ties and women executives in flattering two-piece suits. Order a local Riesling and a Flammkuchen (sort of light pizza) to refuel before you continue. |
