FRANKFURT 
Sightseeing

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Frankfurt's City Hall is called "Römer" and dates from 1405. The diners during the crowning of the Emperors took place in the "Kaisersaal" (Hall of the Emperors). Right opposite of the city hall is the Römerplatz with the Fountain of Justice. The Wertheim House is a beautiful middle class dwelling with nice frame work and a richly decorated facade form the 16th century, which has been transformed in an luxurious family pension. The "Ostzeile" is the name of a splendid row of medieval framework houses, opposite of the Römer City Hall.

The Saint Leonard's Church (Leonhardskirche) has an interior design in Romanesque and Gothique style. The Historical Museum at n° 19, Saalgasse, is the oldest building of the city center. Its design is a mixture of modern architecture and the style of the Hohenstaufen era. The chapel is called the Saalhof and goes back to approximately 1170.  This museum tells the visitor all about the history of Frankfurt. Saint Leonard's Church (Leonhardskirche) has an interior design in Romanesque and Gothique style. The Historical Museum at n° 19, Saalgasse, is the oldest building of the city center. Its design is a mixture of modern architecture and the style of the Hohenstaufen era. The chapel is called the Saalhof and goes back to approximately 1170.  This museum tells the visitor all about the history of Frankfurt.

The cathedral, built in red sand stone like the cathedral of Strasburg, was built between the 13th and the 15th century. It was here that the election (until 1356) of the German emperors took place, and later, as from 1562, also their coronation. It is rightly called the "Kaiserdom" (Imperial Cathedral). The church contains many works of art. The most remarkable ones are the sculptures around the choir and the Crucifixion by Hans Backhoffen.

Not far from the cathedral stands the Saint-Paul's church (Paulskirche), built between 1789 and 1833. It was the seat of the first improvised German Parliament from 1848 until 1849. During the Second World War the church was heavily damaged. After the war, the church was rebuilt and chosen as seat for the Parliament of the new Federal Republic until this organisation moved to the newly elected capital Bonn. The ceremonies of the The Goethe Award and the Peace Award are organized here every year. Close by, in the Grosser Hirschgraben n° 23-25, the Goethe House can be visited. It was here that the greatest German writer was born and passed his childhood. It is now a museum.

The "Hauptwache" (1730), an old police station at the heart of the city, has been transformed into a café. A nice place to start an afternoon of shopping, because it lies close to the Zeil, Frankfurt's main shopping artery (and also the longest shopping street in Germany). Eating can be done in the nearby Fressgasse where a lot of Delikatessen and fine restaurants cater to everybody's taste. "Hauptwache" (1730), an old police station at the heart of the city, has been transformed into a café. A nice place to start an afternoon of shopping, because it lies close to the Zeil, Frankfurt's main shopping artery (and also the longest shopping street in Germany). Eating can be done in the nearby Fressgasse where a lot of Delikatessen and fine restaurants cater to everybody's taste.