STOPOVER IN FRANKFURT

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Even with limited time, it is possible to visit Frankfurt and its main attractions in the city center. This is a perfect tourist offer for those who want to spend a short vacation in Frankfurt, and also for those who, with limited time between flights, want to travel more relaxed. Frankfurt's extensive public transport system and the surrounding region, including the airport, allow visitors to travel easily and enjoy discounts using the RheinMainCard.

This mode of travel makes it ideal for visitors who want to discover the city and its surroundings in a relaxed and sustainable way, perhaps savoring typical local foods and other cuisines offered by a wide selection of restaurants. In 15 minutes from the airport, with fast trains, you reach the main station of the city, and in another 5 minutes by tram, you can reach the city center.

There are five attractions not to be missed in Frankfurt: the R?mer, the Cathedral, the new Old Town, St. Paul's Church, and Goethe's House. A short walk from these attractions takes you to the banks of the Main River, where short river cruises with fantastic views of the city's skyline depart from the Iron Bridge. The R?merberg (Ostzeile), the historic center of the city, was rebuilt in 1986 according to the original plans and represents an example of traditional half-timbered architectural style, where each house has its own name.

The R?mer (Town Hall) is a former patrician villa with the typical three-gabled roof. It has been the town hall of Frankfurt since 1405 and continues to be the seat of the city's mayor. The city council was granted the right to build a new town hall in 1329 and, in 1405, decided to purchase two existing houses called "R?mer" and "Goldener Schwan." Some large halls were created on the ground floor and made available during fairs, particularly the Kaisersaal or "Emperor's Hall," built around 1612.

At St. Bartholom?us (St. Bartholomew's Cathedral), visitors can climb the 66-meter-high tower, ascending 328 steps to enjoy an unparalleled view of the New Old Town from the panoramic platform. The Cathedral is named after St. Bartholomew and was built in Gothic style between 1315 and 1358, on the remains of a palatine chapel erected by Louis the Pious in 822.

The artistic treasures of the Imperial Cathedral, almost 95 meters high, include the Altar of Mary's Sleep by an unknown artist from the 15th century, the painting of the Lamentation of Christ by Anton Van Dyck, as well as the tombs of famous Frankfurt personalities and the reliquary of the skull of St. Bartholomew the Apostle. Throughout the centuries, the Cathedral has been subjected to destruction and subsequent reconstructions. The tower houses the bell tower with the “Gloriosa,” the second heaviest bell in Germany, weighing 11,950 kilograms.

Frankfurt's New Old Town has been recently rebuilt according to the original plans, and the harmonious architectural fusion of the new district recalls the long history of Frankfurt. The “Coronation Route,” which follows the footsteps of ancient kings and emperors to their coronation site, runs from the Cathedral to the R?mer Town Hall, evoking the medieval history of Frankfurt.

The archaeological gardens of the old town showcase the remains of an ancient Roman settlement and an imperial palace dating back to the Carolingian era. Paulskirche (St. Paul's Church) is famous because here the National Assembly wrote the first democratic constitution for Germany, and today the site hosts award presentations as well as political and cultural events. Consecrated in 1833, this church was the seat of the first German national assembly in 1848, which in turn provided the basis for the current German constitution.

The Frankfurter Goethe-Haus und Freies Deutsches Hochstift (Goethe Museum and Goethe House in Frankfurt) is the birthplace of Germany's most famous author and poet, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It was built in the typical 18th-century style. Johann Wolfgang Goethe was born here on August 28, 1749, "at the stroke of twelve bells," and grew up with his parents, Johann Caspar and Catharina Elisabeth, and his sister Cornelia. With its old furniture and paintings, the 18th-century townhouse provides a vivid picture of the great artist's youth. Adjacent to the Goethe House is the Museum dedicated to him, and a gallery of paintings from the era.

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