Historical strolls in Goethe's country
In addition to its unusual economic activities, which have been making its fortunes for centuries, Frankfurt offers unhoped-for historical and cultural riches, much to the delight of visitors.
Restaurants and cafés offering international fare (including Italian, Greek, Japanese and Chinese food), from the most affordable to the priciest, will delight all palates.
Frankfurt still has the distinction of being a German
literary capital. Indeed, did it not spawn the incomparable Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
(1749-1832), whose birthplace (Goethehaus und Museum) stands on the banks of the Main?
And does it not host one of the most prestigious international book fairs in the
world?
Frankfurt also boasts a thriving cultural
scene. Indeed, visitors can choose among 12 museums on the "Museumsufer," or Museum Row,
which runs along the southern embankment of the Main between the Eisernensteg and
Friedensbrücke bridges. Among them are museums devoted to crafts, film, architecture and
modern art, as well as the Judisches (Jewish) Museum, the Senckenberg natural-history
museum, the magnificent Städel -- whose rich collection not only comprises paintings by
Botticelli, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Rubens and Poussin, but also works by German artists
such as Dürer, Holbein, Cranach, Grünewald and Altdorfer -- and last but not least, the
Schirn Kunsthalle, to name but the most popular. In fact, Frankfurt is home to no less
than 137 museums, which attract 1.4 million people annually, and almost as many art
galleries!
The Palmengarten is a wonderful oasis of
greenery right in the heart of the city. The palm garden features 2,000 species of
plants, instructive floral exhibits and a park in which to enjoy various recreational
activities.
A few major historic sites and
monuments have survived the ravages of World War II: the Frankfurt cathedral (13th and
15th century), Paulskirche (St. Paul's church) and the Römerberg (Roman Hill), where
Charlemagne (a.k.a. Karl der Grosse, 742-814), king of the Franks, built a fort
(Frankonovurd, which means "fort of the Franks"), after which the city was named.