Frankfurt: Germany

Frankfurt: Germany
Frankfurt am Main is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth largest city of Germany. Situated on the Main river, it has a population of approximately 650,000 (but about 5 million in its metropolitan area ).
Among English speakers it is commonly known as simply “Frankfurt�, though Germans more frequently call it by its full name in order to distinguish it from the other Frankfurt in Germany, Frankfurt an der Oder. It was once called Frankfort-on-the-Main in English: a direct translation of Frankfurt am Main.
Some famous Sights in Frankfurt
Cathedral
The Cathedral Saint Bartholomeus (Dom Sankt Bartholomäus) is a Gothic construction which was built in the 14th and 15th century on the foundation of an earlier church from the Merovingian time. It is the main church of Frankfurt. From 1356 on the kings of the Holy Roman Empire were elected in this church, and from 1562 to 1792 the emperors were crowned here.
Since the 18th century Saint Bartholomeus has been called “the cathedral� by the people although it has never been a bishop’s seat. In 1867 the cathedral was destroyed by a fire and rebuilt in its present style. The height of the cathedral is 95 m.
Römer
The name of the town hall means “Roman�. It is in fact nine houses which were acquired by the city council in 1405 from a wealthy merchant family. The middle house became the town hall and was later connected with the neighbouring buildings. In the upper floor there is the Kaisersaal (“Emperor’s Hall�) where the newly crowned emperors held their banquets.
The Römer was destroyed in World War II, but rebuilt afterwards.
Saint Paul’s Church
Saint Paul’s Church (Paulskirche) is a rather new church. It was established in 1789 as a Protestant church but not finished until 1833. Its importance has its root in the Frankfurt Parliament which was held here in 1848/49 in order to develop a constitution for a united Germany. The institution failed because the monarchs of Prussia and Austria did not want lose power; in 1849 Prussian troops ended the democratic experiment by force of arms, and the parliament was dissolved. Afterwards the building was used for church services again.
Saint Paul was completely destroyed in World War II but quickly rebuilt. Today it is not used as a sacral building anymore but for exhibitions. In 1963 US president John F. Kennedy made a speech in Saint Paul during his visit to Frankfurt.
Opera house
The famous opera house of Frankfurt (Alte Oper) was built in 1880 by the architect Richard Lucae. It was one of the major opera houses of Germany until its destruction in World War II. It was not until 1981 that the old opera was eventually rebuilt and opened. Today it is a concert hall while operas are performed in a building from 1951.
Other constructions
Henninger Turm (silo with observation deck, unfortunately closed for visitors)
Europaturm (unfortunately closed for visitors)