For centuries, the city of Frankfurt has been an important economic and cultural hub in Germany. The former residence of the Rothschilds, the main synagogue in Frankfurt, the world’s 3rd-largest stock exchange, and the European Central Bank are just some of many landmarks in Frankfurt.
It is also home to one of the largest squares in Europe. This square is called the ‘Römerberg,’ considered one of the most important landmarks because it was where the Franks met for their annual election. Let’s get into several historical landmarks in Frankfurt.
Famous Historical Landmarks in Frankfurt
1. Römer
The Römer is a medieval building in Frankfurt, Germany’s historic center, and one of the city’s most important attractions. The Römer has served as Frankfurt’s municipal hall (Rathaus) for over 600 years and is located across from the Old St. Nicholas Church. The Haus Römer is one of three identical city halls built in the 14th century.
The Römer is not a museum strictly, but the city occasionally uses it for various purposes, such as a Standesamt or civil registration office; wedding rooms are found on the first and second floors of the Haus Löwenstein.
The Dom-Römer Quarter, which incorporates several reconstructions of historical buildings on the Römerberg, was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985.
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2. New Town Hall
The New Town Hall (Neues Römer) is a town hall on the Main River in Frankfurt, Germany. The original building was the second as it stood opposite the Paulskirche and served as an administrative building of Prussia and the German Empire during the 19th century. The current Neue Römer building is now the city council seat.
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3. Städel Museum
The Städel Museum is an art museum with one of the country’s greatest collections. The Städel Art Institute and City Hall Gallery contain over 3,100 paintings, 660 sculptures, 4,600 photographs, and more than 100,000 drawings and prints.
With approximately 4,000 m2 of exhibition space, it is among the larger art museums in Germany. The museum houses an extensive collection of paintings and drawings from the 15th to the early 20th centuries, focusing on German-speaking painters. The Städel was designated “Museum of the Year” by the German art critics’ association AICA.
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4. Grüneburg Park
Grüneburgpark is an urban park in Frankfurt, Germany. It was created in 1961 on the disused Stadtgut Grüneburg (Grüneburg Estate) and encompassed an area of 57 hectares with a length of 3.6 kilometers.
A wide range of attractions is presented throughout the year. There is an adventure playground, a petting zoo, and an area dedicated to children’s rail transport. A large outdoor swimming pool with grassed areas is set up in summer.
The park has two lawns: the Schwanenweiher (Swan Lake) and the Fürstengraben (Prince’s Ditch). The various theme gardens cover more than 2 hectares.
There is also a rose garden, a Japanese garden, and the Grüneburgpark’s two landmarks: the Mailänder Hochhaus (Milan skyscraper) and the wonderful Museum für Moderne Kunst (Museum of Modern Art).
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5. Palmengarten
The Palmengarten, situated in the charming Westend-Süd neighborhood of Frankfurt, Germany, stands proudly as one of the city’s three delightful botanical gardens. Spanning an impressive area of 22 hectares, this verdant oasis is home to a diverse flora, boasting an impressive collection of 20 distinct species of trees and bushes.
Whether wandering through the tranquil pathways or admiring the colors of the blooming flowers, visitors to the Palmengarten are sure to be captivated by its natural beauty and tranquil ambiance.
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6. Holzhausen Palace
The Holzhausenschlösschen (Little Holzhausen Palace), a moated former country home built by the patrician Holzhausen family on their farm, is now in the Nordend of Frankfurt.
After a design by Louis Remy de la Fosse, Johann Hieronymus von Holzhausen rebuilt the house in 1710. The small palace has an octagonal plan and is seen as one of the purest representatives of baroque old German architecture.
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7. Römerberg
The Römerberg is a public area in Frankfurt, Germany. It is in front of the Römer building complex, which has housed the city administration of Frankfurt since the 15th century. The square served as the traditional core of the medieval Altstadt (old town) and is now a popular tourist attraction.
Römerberg is a major site for the Frankfurt Christmas Market, which takes place outside throughout December. It was the location of a Nazi book burning in 1933.
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8. Iron Footbridge
The Eiserner Steg, also known as the Iron Footbridge, connects the city of Frankfurt with the Sachsenhausen district. The initial wrought iron bridge was constructed in 1868 and was later replaced by a cantilever steel structure in 1912.
Comprising two bridge piers, it spans 170 meters long and is made of riveted steel beam construction. The Wehrmacht detonated the bridge in the final days of World War II, but it was quickly rebuilt after. It was completely renovated in 1993.
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9. Main Tower
The Main Tower is a 56-story, 200 m (656 ft) skyscraper in Frankfurt, Germany’s Innenstadt district. The Main River runs nearby and was named for that reason. The building reaches 240 meters (787 feet) when the antenna spire is included. There are five underground levels and two public viewing platforms in the tower.
The building’s foyer houses two artworks that are open to the public: “The World of Appearances” by Bill Viola and a wall mosaic by Stephan Huber entitled “Frankfurter Treppe / XX. Jahrhundert” ( (“Frankfurt’s Steps/20th century”). The tower’s structure appears to include two connected towers between which a sky lobby is situated.
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10. Alte Nikolaikirche
The Old St Nicholas Church (in German: Alte Nikolaikirche) in Frankfurt, Germany, is a medieval Lutheran church and a top attraction in Frankfurt. It is located in the old town of Frankfurt, known as Altstadt, near the Römer city hall. There are 51 bells at the church; 4 of them are used for peals and 47 for carillons.
The Old St Nicholas Church is part of the present-day Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau, which includes Lutheran, Reformed, and United Protestant congregations.
Despite significant damage to the adjacent old city during the bombing of Frankfurt am Main in World War II, the Old St Nicholas Church was largely intact.
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11. Bethmann Park
Bethmannpark is a public city park in Frankfurt am Main. It was designed and built by the landscape architect Gustav Meyer (1841-1897) and opened to the public on September 28, 1897.
The park has an area of 11 hectares and extends down from the Hotel Nassauer Hof to the banks of the River Main. It is lined on both sides by chestnut trees (Castanea sativa).
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12. Museumsufer
The Museumsufer, also known as the Museums Riverbank, is an urban promenade located centrally located in Frankfurt am Main. Situated along the left bank of the serene Main River, it serves as an artistic and cultural hub that seamlessly connects six esteemed museums and two prestigious art schools.
The expansive area, covering approximately 22,500 square meters, is an innovative fusion of architecture and nature, designed to provide a tranquil yet inspiring space for art enthusiasts and casual visitors alike. The promenade is a testament to the city’s commitment to promoting art, education, and culture, making it a significant landmark in Frankfurt.
The museums dotted along the promenade boast rich and diverse collections, ranging from classical art to modern design, ethnographic exhibits to film history, offering a kaleidoscope of experiences for its visitors. The two art schools interspersed within this space not only contribute to the vibrant art scene but also provide a platform for the next generation of artists to learn, grow, and exhibit their work.
The Museumsufer is not just about the museums and art schools; nine distinct exhibition halls also punctuate it. These spaces host many events throughout the year, including art exhibitions, cultural festivals, and educational workshops.
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13. St. Paul’s Church
St. Paul’s Church (Paulskirche) is a national historic monument in Germany because it was the seat of the first democratically elected parliament in 1848. In 1886, Paulskirche was torn down and replaced with a reproduction built between 1910 and 1914 after plans by architect Max Littmann.
Reconstruction of the church began in 1999 through an organization called “Pro Paulskirche” which relies mostly on private donations. The church was re-inaugurated on 29 October 2014.
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14. Goethe House
The Goethe House, located in Frankfurt’s Innenstadt District in Germany, is a writer’s house museum. It was the birthplace of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and is furnished with period pieces and paintings, providing an authentic backdrop to his youth. It is also where Goethe penned his renowned works, including Götz von Berlichingen, Faust, and The Sorrows of Young Werther.
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15. Brockhaus Fountain
The Brockhaus Fountain is a monumental public fountain in Frankfurt, Germany. It was created in 1881 by the sculptor Rudolf Bosselt and donated to the city after his retirement. It was inaugurated before the St. Leonhard church on May 12, 1882.
The fountain is designed as a pedestal with four ionic columns supporting a dome where a warrior aims with his bow while riding on top of two dolphins at the base. A six meters tall column stands behind this pedestal, at whose top stands an obelisk on which the year AD 1839 is inscribed.
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16. Zoo Frankfurt
The Frankfurt Zoological Garden is a zoo in Frankfurt. More than 4,500 animals representing more than 510 species live on over 11 hectares at the zoo. The zoo was established in 1858 and is the country’s second oldest after Berlin Zoo.
It is located near the Innenstadt (inner city) east of the center. The gate’s architecture represents the neoclassicism of the 19th century.
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17. Schiller-Denkmal
The Schiller Monument in Frankfurt am Main is dedicated to the German dramatist and historian Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1805). It was created by Reinhold Begas, who also designed the statue of Bismarck at St. Paul’s Church (Paulskirche) in 1888.
After various disputes about its location, the statue was finally erected 1883 outside the Alte Nikolaikirche. Schiller had set up the site for this church as a student at this former Stift gymnasium in 1773.
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18. Schloss Isenburg
The Schloss Isenburg is a small palace in Frankfurt am Main. It was owned by the Counts of Isenburg but sold to Frankfurt’s city council in 1317. The building now houses offices for some lawyers, among them Helmut Heinen. Since 2000, there has been a permanent exhibition about him and his wife, Martha, who was among the most famous German resistance fighters against the Nazis.
There are numerous landmarks to enjoy and many things to do in Frankfurt. Whether you like history or the arts, you’ll find something interesting.
If you want to see any of these monuments while you’re there, schedule your visit ahead of time so that it doesn’t go by too fast and leave you with little time at each site.
It would also be wise to check out our article on how tourism impacts local economies because it could help with your itinerary planning process if this city is a stop on your vacation plans! We hope we’ve given you some ideas about where to start when exploring this beautiful German city.
FAQs
What is Frankfurt famous for?
Frankfurt is famously known as the financial hub of Germany, hosting the European Central Bank and the German Stock Exchange. The city blends modern architecture with a rich historical past, boasting diverse cultural experiences, including its renowned annual Frankfurt Book Fair and the city’s signature apple wine.
What is the most famous landmark in Frankfurt?
The most iconic landmark in Frankfurt is the Römer, a medieval building that has served as the city hall for over 600 years. Located at the core of Frankfurt’s old town, the Römer features distinct stepped-gable architecture and overlooks the historic Römerberg square.
What is the most famous street in Frankfurt?
Zeil is arguably the most famous street in Frankfurt, renowned as a bustling shopping avenue. This pedestrian-friendly street has numerous stores ranging from popular international brands to local boutiques in grand shopping complexes such as Zeilgalerie and MyZeil, the latter known for its impressive modern architecture.
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