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The World Cup in Germany.com
An overview of Frankfurt
By
Oct 17, 2005, 17:14
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Frankfurt am Main (don't confuse it with Frankfurt an der Oder) is the fifth largest city in Germany (after Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Cologne) and the largest in the Federal State of Hessen.
Major banking centre
Frankfurt is contintental Europe's leading financial centre, home to Germany's main stock exchange and the European Central Bank. The city is also a key transport |
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| Sunset over the 'Mainhattan' skyline |
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hub with the airport Germany's biggest workplace and the main railway station the busiest in Europe.
Frankfurt's location
Frankfurt lies to the south-east of the Taunus hills, straddling the River Main, not far from its confluence with the Rhine. To the south of the city is the Frankfurt City Forest (Frankfurter Stadtwald), Germany's largest urban forest and the site of the Commerzbank Arena.
The city's 'Mainhattan' skyline
Like many other German cities, Frankfurt's appearance changed drastically after the Second World War. But here, unlike elsewhere it was decided not to try to recreate the buildings of the past, but to produce a bold, new image for the city. Now, Frankfurt boasts nine of the ten tallest skyscrapers in Germany and is often referred to by the nickname 'Mainhattan'.
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| Hessen's location within Germany |
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History of Frankfurt
Franconofurt, meaning the 'Ford of the Franks', or possibly 'Free Ford', is first mentioned in a document of Charlemagne's in 794. In fact, in the Holy Roman Empire, Frankfurt was one of the most important cities. From 855 the German kings and emperors were elected in Frankfurt and then crowned in Aachen. From 1562 until 1792 both events took place in Frankfurt.
An Imperial city
In 1372, Frankfurt became an Imperial city, directly subordinate to the Holy Roman Emperor and not to any king or a local nobleman. |
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The Grand Duchy of Frankfurt
For a brief spell, from 1810-1813, The Grand Duchy of Frankfurt existed as a vassal state of France. However, the Congress of Vienna dissolved this, and Frankfurt entered the newly formed German Confederation as a free city, becoming the seat of the Bundestag, the Confederation's parliament. Frankfurt lost its independence in 1866, when Prussia annexed the city, incorporating it into the province of Hessen-Nassau.
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The capital that never was
After World War II, Frankfurt became part of the newly formed State of Hessen. It was also seen as a prime candidate to be West Germany's capital (pending a hoped-for return to Berlin).
Lost out to Bonn
A new parliament building was even built (now home to the Hessen state broadcasting company), but in a vote in the German parliament Frankfurt lost out narrowly to the small provincial town of Bonn, the favoured choice of first post-war chancellor Konrad Adenauer, who lived in that area. |
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| The European Central Bank in Frankfurt |
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| Cider - Frankfurt's favourite tipple |
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Trade fairs
Today, as well as being a major financial centre, the city also remains a significant venue for trade fairs, including the Frankfurt Book Fair and the International Motor Show.
Frankfurt sights
Many of Frankfurt's sights can be reached on foot, walking around the city centre or across the river to the Sachsenhausen district, where you'll find the city's key museums and the best cider taverns! |
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Some of the sights you might like to see are covered on the following pages:
| For details of other things to see and do, see the Frankfurt tourist office website or Frankfurt's official World Cup website (both in English).
See our Frankfurt guides shop page for a selection of 11 city guides.
See also Expedia.co.uk for Frankfurt hotels, flights and rental cars .
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