Tourist Attractions in Frankfurt

In the Senckenberg Gardens in Frankfurt is the extensive range of buildings occupied by the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University (founded 1914) and the Senckenberg Natural History Museum, one of the most modern museums of natural history in Europe (fossils, minerals, large mammals, development of man; research collection). The Senckenberg Society has an institute of marine research (established 1928) in Wilhelmshaven.

A little way north of the Stock Exchange in Frankfurt is the Eschenheimer Turm (1400-28), the finest relic of the old town walls, which are now replaced by the ring of gardens enclosing the old town.

To the south of the Rossmarkt in Frankfurt, at Grosser Hirschgraben 23, is the Goethe House (completely rebuilt on the basis of old plans in 1946-51), in which the great German writer was born on August 28, 1749, and lived until 1765. The interior (now a museum) has been restored to its original condition.

Adjoining is the Haus des Deutschen Buchhandels (Book Trade House), headquarters of the central organization of publishers and booksellers.

Northeast of the Palmengarten in Frankfurt is the Grüneburgpark (29 hectares/72 acres), with the Botanic Garden.

Beyond Frankfurt's Nikolaikirche, reaching down to the Mainkai, can be found the Historical Museum, completed in 1972 (history of Frankfurt, children's museum, communications center). Incorporated in the building are the Rententurm (1455) and the Saalhof (originally dating in part from ninth C.; altered in 18th and 19th C.).

At the old Bockenheimer Tor can be found the Old Opera House (originally built 1880), which was reopened in 1981, after rebuilding, as a congress and concert hall. The exterior of the Opera House is in the style of the Italian High Renaissance. Its main hall seats 2,500 people.

1.5km/1mi northwest of Frankfurt's Opera House on the Bockenheimer Landstrasse is the beautiful Palmengarten (native, subtropical and tropical flora).

The gardens also offer recreational facilities (boat hire, children's playground, mini-golf, etc.).

To the south of Frankfurt's Hauptwache, in Paulsplatz, stands the Paulskirche (built 1790-1833, restored 1948), a plain neo-classical building on a centralized plan in which the first German National Assembly met in 1848-49. The presentation of the Frankfurt Goethe Prize and the annual Peace Prize of the German Book Trade takes place here.

To the north of the Rossmarkt in Frankfurt stands the Stock Exchange (built 1879, rebuilt 1957), the largest stock exchange in Germany, with an annual turnover of more than 40 billion DM.

1km/.75mi north of the Palmengarten in Frankfurt rises the 331 m/1,086ft high Telecommunications Tower (1977), with a viewing platform and a restaurant.

Sachsenhausen is the place to enjoy a Frankfurt specialty, the cider (ebbelwei) which is sold here, particularly in Grosse and Kleine Rittergasse, Rauschergasse, Textorgasse and Klappergasse. Visitors may take some time to get used to the sharp taste effect of ebbelwei. Favorite dishes to accompany it are Rippchen mit Kraut (pickled ribs of pork with sauerkraut) and Schwartenmagen mit Musik (onions with vinaigrette dressing).

On the south side of the Palmengarten in Frankfurt is the Deutsche Bibliothek (1957-59), which collects all German-language books published in Germany or abroad. Facing it, on the Bockenheimer Landstrasse, stands the Municipal and University Library (Stadt- und Universitätsbibliothek).

To the south of the Palmengarten in Frankfurt, at Schubertstrasse 20, is the Heinrich Hoffmann Museum, devoted to the author of "Struwwelpeter" (also material on the history of medicine).

There is a Struwwelpeter Collection, with original drafts and rare editions of the book, at Hochstrasse 45-47, near the Old Opera House.

The Jewish Museum in Frankfurt am Main displays the history of the Jews in Frankfurt from the Middle Ages to present day.

Works from Andy Warhol, Liechtenstein and Beuys are on display in the Museum for Modern Art in Frankfurt am Main.

Northwest of the Grüneburgpark in Frankfurt, on the outskirts of the city, lies the Volkspark Niddatal, remodeled in 1989 for the Federal Garden Show.

The Parish Church of St Leonard (R.C.), situated directly on the Main ambankment, was founded in 1219 as a chapel dedicated ts SS. Mary and George, built on a site presented to the town by the Emperor Frederick II.

The first line of the Stadtwerke Frankfurt am Main was opened in 1968. It is made up of 7 lines with 56.2km of track. There are 82 stations. The system has a zonal fare structure.

The metro system serves almost 100 million people yearly with a rolling stock of 226 articulated cars. During peak hours trains run every two minutes.

Some 500 m/550yd south of the University in Frankfurt are the Trade Fair Grounds, with the Festhalle (built 1907-09; renovated 1986). With a total area of 40 hectares/100 acres, 10 exhibition halls and the Torhaus (1985), the Trade Fair Grounds offer facilities for numerous trade fairs and exhibitions, including the International Book Fair, the Frankfurt International Trade Fair, the International Motor Show, the Frankfurt Art Fair and the International Computer Fair. The Messeturm (by Helmut Jahn, 1990) is 256 m/840ft high.