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FRANKFURT    Frankfurt mouse

        Frankfurt's modern, traditional contrasts make the city exciting to visit. Frankfurt is also one of the busiest cities in Europe.  Frankfurt's skyline is now dominated by several tall buildings, and the city has a new underground.  Yet, Frankfurt has a 14th century cathedral and many other buildings from Germany's past.  Situated on the River Main, Frankfurt, although modern, is still today a romantic German city.
        Frankfurt is one of the Germany's larger cities, and consequently there is more happening here.  Frankfurt is a propitious place to visit.  Discovering Frankfurt is thoroughly useful for increasing one's appreciation of today's Germany.  Studying the Frankfurt urban environment is, also, definitely profitable for understanding other German cities.
        The visitor to Frankfurt is at once impressed with Frankfurt's modernity. New pedestrian streets, plazas, and fountains are found among modern buildings.   Contemporary sculptures add attractiveness to public areas throughout downtown Frankfurt.   Frankfurt's public transportation system includes a new subway system.  The Hauptwache underground station, in the center of Frankfurt, combines a shopping complex with a subway station.
        Despite the contemporary emphasis, Frankfurt has still preserved her past. Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire were crowned in St. Bartholomew's Cathedral, completed in 1353.  Reminders of Frankfurt's original ramparts can still be visited.  Frankfurt's Altstadt or Old Town presents a pleasing facsimile of traditional German life.  Goethe's House and Museum are important highlight of Altstadt.

A Traditional and Modern City by Foot

        The River Main flows through the center of Frankfurt.  The neighborhoods across the River Main are connected to the downtown with a subway system.  Plazas and pedestrian streets give the city a leisurely attractiveness and help make being in Frankfurt aesthetically pleasurable.   In various respects, Frankfurt resembles a bustling American city. European qualities, however, predominate.
        Downtown Frankfurt is a modern center of commerce.   Tall modern office buildings, efficient department stores, and various kinds of shops comprise this city's center. Frankfurt's businesslike urban environment beckons welcome to many visitors.

the modern Frankfurt skyline
The Modern Frankfurt Skyline


        The downtown commercial area of Frankfurt includes department and specialty stores.  Finding whatever merchandise one would like is effortless in downtown Frankfurt.  There is no lack of exceptional restaurants in Frankfurt either, making commendable dining not unusually complicated.
        Frankfurt's cathedral, museums, various traditional edifices, and the River Main all are delightful to discover one's first visit to the city.  Frankfurt is truly Germany's big city with a substantial metropolitan area surrounding the core city.  The very center of this metropolitan area retains a pleasant traditional quality.    Somehow the traditional center of Frankfurt's urban environment is carefully reassuring to the visitor.  Being in downtown Frankfurt can have an unusual, auspicious quality.

Discovering Frankfurt's Urban Environment

        Begin Frankfurt's urban hike at the Hauptbahnhof.   From the Hauptbahnhof walk up Munz Gasse to Theater Platz.  The area between the Hauptbahnhof and Theater Platz is a fascinating area with some night life to be found on the side streets.  Reaching the Theater Platz, turn right.   Walk one block, and find the River Main.  Turn right on Main Kai Strasse located adjacent to the river.  The urban scenery along Main Kai is often found in pictures of Frankfurt.  The Main River can be crossed on a walkway here.  Cruises along both the Main and the Rhine Rivers begin from Main Kai Strasse.
        Follow Main Kai Strasse to Romerberg Strasse, then turn left.  Romerberg Platz is reached in two blocks on Romerberg Strasse.  There is a famous block of 15th-century burghers houses located here known as the Romer.   The Zum Romer House in the center of this group has been used by the city since 1405.    These houses all overlook a fountain situated in the center of the Platz.

Frankfurt Map
An urban hike in Frankfurt


        The Cathedral of St. Bartholomew is one block north of Romerberg Platz.  This great cathedral was completed in 1353. The electoral chapel where Holy Roman Emperors were selected can be visited. Coronation ornaments from that period are also on display.
        From the cathedral, continue on Romerberg Strasse to Berliner Strasse and turn left.  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's House is three blocks further on this street. Goethe was Germany's most famous writer and poet.  Several rooms in the Goethe House are preserved as they were when Goethe used them.  A Goethe museum is located next door to the house.
        Leaving Goethe's House, follow Zeil Strasse to Fressgasse and turn left.  The Frankfurt Opera is about two blocks distant on Fressgasse.  The Opera and its large fountain create an unusual platz.   The platz before the Opera can often be found full of people unhurriedly savoring the day.

the Frankfurt opera
The Frankfurt opera


        Leaving the Opera, return down Fressgasse and continue on Zeil Strasse reaching Grobe Eschenheimer. Turn left on Grobe Eschenheimer and walk about four blocks.  The Eschenheimer Turm is situated here.  This tower is located on the old ramparts of Frankfurt.  The Eschenheimer Turm, completed in 1426, exemplifies traditional Germany.
        Completing this urban hike, requires both walking and using the subway.  The amount of walking required to complete his hike is reduced by using the subway.  Next, take the underground from the Eschenheimer Turm to the zoo.  The Frankfurt Zoo was founded in 1858 and is among the best zoos in Europe.  The zoo is famous for replicating the natural habitats of animals.    A famous  walk through aviary is also found at the Frankfurt Zoo.

Eschenheimer Turm
Eschenheimer Turm


        Leave the zoo and again take the underground to the Museums Ufer located across the River Main.  Museums Ufer is a name given to several museums situated together on the bank of the River Main.  The Stadelsches-Kunstinstitut is situated here. A first-rate collection of German paintings from the 16th century including works by Durer, Memling, Hans Holbein is exhibited in this gallery. The Stadel Art Museum, also, includes the work of Heironymous Bosch, Cezanne, Renoir, Matisse, Picasso, and Klee.  A superior collection of the works of contemporary German and Italian artists is found in the Stadel Art Museum.  Other museums in the Museums Ufer group include an applied art museum, an architecture museum, a German film museum, and a sculpture collection.
        After leaving the Museums Ufer, cross the River Main again and possibly find a pub in the Sachsenhausen neighborhood. Having walked all around Frankfurt, perhaps have a beer in one the many taphouses found here. Sachsenhausen Frankfurt is nice for after diner entertainment.

Frankfurt, Germany's Big City

        The Frankfurt metropolitan area is unsurpassed, and a visit to Germany's big city is always advantageous. Reasoning with different areas of the big city, helps one appreciate how beneficial a visit to Frankfurt is.   Besides visiting the Zum Romer neighborhood, include a trip to the zoo, and the Stadelsches-Kunstinstitut. The more of Frankfurt one visits the more obvious the benefit of a visit to this city becomes.
        When in Frankfurt, appreciate the contrasts between the traditional and contemporary sides of this German city. Some areas of Frankfurt have a calm and relaxed quality while others provide a glimpse of more traditional Germany. Modern business areas of Frankfurt welcome visitors.  The traditional attractions of the city tend to reassure that Frankfurt is a careful city to visit.
        Browsing in Frankfurt is absorbing and finding desired merchandise a meaningful compliment to a visit.  Look through Frankfurt's department stores and discover the large selection of high quality goods available in this city.  Merchandise that appeals personally can be found in the city's department stores.  The Zeil District found east of Hauptwache is famous for exceptional department and specialty stores.
        Frankfurt's customary sights make preferred photographic subjects.  Modern Frankfurt likewise produces expert pictures. The city plazas and parks are colorful and provide memorable accents to the urban environment.  Modern Frankfurt tries to fit the urban environment to the liking of those who live and work there.  Frankfurt provides some admirable opportunities for photographing the interaction between people and the urban environment.

the Frankfurt urban environment
Frankfurt's urban environment


        As German cities go, Frankfurt is a trustworthy city to visit.  Frankfurt could be described as an exciting place to be.  Frankfurt is a city people like to visit, and beginning an acquaintanceship with this city is a superb experience.

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