|
Germany
Travel Guide
Frankfurt
in 24 Hours by Manoj B
For
the keen traveler, touring a city in just a day doesn't appear to be a
good idea at all. But there are others who would prefer to make a few
rounds and see the best sights, take photographs and possibly bring home
a few keepsakes and collectibles. Most business travelers with a spare
day after or before a conference or a business assignment fall into this
category. And Frankfurt being one of the busiest hub airports in Europe,
perfectly fits into this picture.
|
Start off your tour at old
town. This will probably take you half a day at the most. Before the
Second World War bombings flattened the city, this was one of Germany's
greatest and most historic places. Tastefully restored, the old streets
here lead to some of Europe's most monumental landmarks. Take a trip to
Goethehaus, the house where the greatest German writer, Goethe, was
born in the year 1749. Follow the great writer's footsteps down the
Altstadt, where he spent most of his early childhood years. Another
intriguing place to visit is the red-sandstone tower of the Dom, which
is also the most dominant structure here.
Consecrated
in 1239, the cathedral was chosen as the electoral and coronation site
for the kings of the Holy Roman Empire. This is where ten royal
coronations took place between 1562 and 1792. Today, it's significant
mainly for its highly ornamented towering Westturm or west tower.
Within the church, you'll discover the impeccable Upper Rhine
craftsmanship epitomized in the mid-14th-century choir stalls. Did you
know that Frankfurt had a city hall as early as 1405? Romer, the
official seat of Frankfurt's Lord Mayor, is surrounded by three gothic
houses with stepped gables.
|
Buy
This Allposters.com
|
The
Römerberg is the historic center of the old Altstadt, and renowned for
these spectacular half-timbered houses, which have been restored to their
original shape. The second floor of the center house comprises of the
Imperial Hall, where you'll see the romanticized 19th-century portraits
of 52 emperors. The Imperial Hall can be visited as part of a guided
tour, provided it's not in use for any special events.
|
Buy
This Allposters.com
|
At the northern fringe of the
Altstadt lies the An der Hauptwache or the Guardhouse square. The place
derived its name from the historic Hauptwache or guardhouse, which
stands on it. This square is the core of modern Frankfurt. Beneath
this, you can visit the Hauptwache U-Bahn station and explore the
modern shopping promenade.
If
you're an artsy person, Liebieghaus, housed in an 1896 villa, will be a
memorable treat. Rivaled only by the Bargello in Florence, this is one
of Europe's most important sculpture museums. Visitors can take a
glimpse into its impressive collection of objects from ancient Egypt,
classical Greece and Rome, and medieval and renaissance Europe. If time
doesn't allow you to explore the entire place, be sure check out the
8th-century B.C. bronze horse, and Roman copies of the Torso of
Polycletus, Praxiteles's Satyr, and Myron's Athena.
Lastly,
visit the Stadel Gallery, which is the most important art gallery in
Frankfurt. Browse the first floor of the gallery for French
Impressionists such as Renoir and Monet, along with German painters of
the 19th and 20th centuries. Towards evening, go to the district of
Sachsenhausen on the south bank of the main.
|
This
neighborhood is home to Frankfurt's world famous apple-wine or Apfelwein
taverns. Spend your evening sipping wine or walk into any of the clubs or
live music venues around.
top
|
