CITY SIGHTS
Frankfurt is a city of great importance, not only to the Ànancial world — being the headquarters of the European Central Bank since June 1998 — but also to historians and gourmands alike.
An example of its historic wealth is the imposing seventh century gothic Kaiserdom, the imperial cathedral and former coronation church of the Holy Roman Empire. There is also 3aulskirche, seat of the Àrst publicly and freely elected German legislative body, and symbol of German democracy.
The city is popular for its delectable oͿerings too. There isn’t a dearth of restaurants here, but punctuating Frankfurt’s food scene are nine Michelin-starred restaurants — two have two stars and the remaining seven restaurants have one star. Except Sundays, most are open daily for lunch and dinner. However, for a rustic taste of Frankfurt, I’d suggest the local dining venues.
There is much more to explore within and on the city’s periphery.
Apart from the usual hop-on, hop-oͿ buses, rent a bicycle or walk to explore Frankfurt in all its beauty and rich history.
HISTORY
Start your tour with a panoramic view of Frankfurt in the city centre. A -storey and -metre tall Main Tower open 1 am9pm Sunday-Thursday, until 11pm Friday-Saturday, during winter until pm И . ₹ maintower. de) offers two public viewing platforms to capture
absolutely ama]ing views of the city and its surroundings. /ook up straight ahead from the observation deck, and you will spot the Taunus mountain range of the State of Hesse, and its tallest peak, Feldberg at 8 8 metres. The Taunus area is also known for its geothermal springs and mineral waters. An eight-minute walk from the tower is Goethe House (open 1 am- pm Monday-Saturday, until pm Sunday И ₹ 9 goethehaus-frankfurt.de).
It is the famous German writer and statesman’s family residence and museum in Frankfurt. Johann :olfgang von Goethe was born here in 1 9 and continued to live here until 1 , when he moved to /eip]ig to study law. The foundation of today’s collections in this building is the so-called ´Goethe treasureµ obMects and works of art that serve to keep alive the memory of Goethe. 2ne of the most important collections of manuscripts in Germany, a high-proÀle art collection with a museum of the time, and a special library with a total of about 1, , books, has been developed here.
Even if you’re not familiar with the works of this writer, visit to peek into a typical bourgeois home from the late baroque period and architecture from the 1 th and 18th centuries. The dining room has a rich baroque mirror in the then fashionable light blue shade or bleumourant. 2ther rooms too hold baroquestyled furniture, upholstery and other such furnishings.
A stone’s throw from here (sixminute walk past 3aulskirche or St 3aul’s Church) is The Römer (open daily 9 am- pm, until pm Saturday-Sunday free entry frankfurt.de). It is a complex of multiple courtyards and nine houses, which has been Frankfurt’s city hall for over years (since 1 ). 2f all the buildings here, the three buildings with steeped gables hold most importance, and the middle one of them is the actual R|mer. 2n the Àrst Áoor of the main building is the Emperor’s Hall where oil paintings of all
German emperors, who ruled