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Frankfurt am Main ( German: [ˈfʁaŋkfʊʁt ʔam ˈmaɪn] ⓘ; [5] [6] lit. " Frank ford on the [a] Main ") is the most populous city in the German state of Hesse. Its 773,068 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the fifth-most populous city in Germany, [b] and it is the only city in the country rated as an "alpha world city" according to GaWC.
- Overview
- History
- The contemporary city
Frankfurt am Main, city, Hessen Land (state), western Germany. The city lies along the Main River about 19 miles (30 km) upstream from its confluence with the Rhine River at Mainz. Pop. (2021 est.) city, 759,224; urban agglom., 3,210,500.
There is evidence of Celtic and Germanic settlements in the city dating from the 1st century bce, as well as Roman remains from the 1st and 2nd centuries ce. The name Frankfurt (“Ford [Passage or Crossing] of the Franks”) probably arose about 500 ce, when the Franks drove the Alemanni south, but the first written mention of Franconofurt stems from Charlemagne’s personal biographer, Einhard, in the late 8th century. The Pfalz (imperial castle) served as an important royal residence of the East Frankish Carolingians from the 9th century through later medieval times. In the 12th century the Hohenstaufen dynasty erected a new castle in Frankfurt and walled the town. The Hohenstaufen ruler Frederick I (Frederick Barbarossa) was elected king there in 1152, and in 1356 the Golden Bull of Emperor Charles IV (the constitution of the Holy Roman Empire) designated Frankfurt as the permanent site for the election of the German kings.
Frankfurt am Main was a free imperial city from 1372 until 1806, when Napoleon I made it the seat of government for the prince primate of the Confederation of the Rhine. In 1810 the city became the capital of the Grand Duchy of Frankfurt, created by Napoleon. From 1815, when Napoleon fell, Frankfurt was again a free city, where in 1848–49 the Frankfurt National Assembly met. From 1816 to 1866 the city was the seat of the German Bundestag (Federal Diet) and thus the capital of Germany. After the Seven Weeks’ War in 1866, Frankfurt was annexed by Prussia and thereby lost its free-city status. It was only after its integration into a united Germany that Frankfurt developed into a large industrial city.
Until World War II, Frankfurt’s Old Town, which had grown up around the imperial castle, was the largest medieval city still intact in Germany. The Old Town was mostly destroyed by Allied bombing campaigns in 1944, however, and was subsequently rebuilt with multistory office buildings and other modern structures. Among the city’s most famous old structures are the Römer (“the Roman”; formerly the site of the Holy Roman emperor’s coronation ceremonies and now Frankfurt’s city hall) and two other gabled houses on the Römerberg (the city square surrounding the Römer). Other historical landmarks include the 155-foot- (47-metre-) tall Eschenheimer Tower (1400–28); the red sandstone cathedral, which was dedicated to St. Bartholomew in 1239; and the Paulskirche, which was the meeting place of the first Frankfurt National Assembly.
International trade fairs have been held in Frankfurt since 1240, and the city is now a leading commercial, financial, and high-technology centre. There is an important stock exchange (first established in 1585). The Rothschild family started building its international banking empire in Frankfurt. The city also is the home of the European Union’s central bank. Annual book, automobile, and computer fairs are popular events, and there are many other fairs held throughout the year. Manufactures include automobiles, machinery, chemical and pharmaceutical products, printing materials, and foodstuffs. The city is traditionally known for its production of high-quality sausages (frankfurters).
Frankfurt has long been a key stopping point for river, rail, and road traffic from Switzerland and southern Germany northward along the Rhine River to the Ruhr region and across the Main River to north-central Germany. It is still the chief traffic hub for western Germany and has also been an important inland shipping port since the canalization of the Main in the 1880s. Frankfurt Airport is the largest airport in Germany and one of the busiest in Europe.
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Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt (1914) is among the largest institutions of higher education in Germany. The Frankfurt am Main City Zoological Garden is one of the country’s finest zoos. Among the city’s other attractions are the Städel Art Institute and Municipal Gallery, the Senckenberg Natural History Museum, and the Liebieghaus Museum of Sculpture. The birthplace of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was burned to the ground in World War II but was later restored. Adjoining it is the Goethe Museum and Library.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
3 days ago · Frankfurt am Main, commonly referred to as Frankfurt, is a vibrant and bustling city located in the heart of Germany. With its rich history, diverse culture, and thriving economy, Frankfurt has become a prominent global city and a major financial hub, often referred to as “Mainhattan” due to its stunning skyline reminiscent of Manhattan.
In 1944, 27 bombs landed on Frankfurt Zoo, destroying buildings, damaging enclosures and allowing several of the lions to escape. Frankfurt’s well-preserved medieval town, the largest in Germany, was also destroyed by air raids. Although many of the timber-framed buildings were carefully reconstructed after the war, the focus on skyscrapers ...
About Frankfurt. Frankfurt – the financial centre, the European city, the traffic hub, the smallest metropolis in the world. When you think of the city on the Main, you think of the Frankfurt Airport, the Paulskirche and Goethe, the Stock Exchange, the Book Fair and the skyline.
Oct 6, 2020 · The S8 and S9 (direction Offenbach or Hanau) reach Frankfurt's Hauptbahnhof (central railway station) in about 10 minutes for just 4.65 euros. Taxis are also readily available. Within the city, the network of public transportation includes U-Bahn (metro), S-Bahn (local trains), and buses that run throughout the night.
