FRANKFURT
Visitors to Germany do not find much to make them linger
in the sprawling city of Frankfurt on the River Main,
unless their purpose is business rather than pleasure.
For most visitors to the country, however, Frankfurt’s
huge showpiece airport is the point of arrival and
departure. The city is a major transport hub and an
industrial and financial metropolis that ensures it is
the economic powerhouse not only of Germany, but central
Europe. Frankfurt is home to Germany’s central bank, the
Bundesbank and Europe's most important stock exchange,
which has been trading since 1585.
For tourists Frankfurt does offer some sights, some
intriguing restaurants in the Nordend, a variety of
artistic and cultural events, and excellent shopping
opportunities. Sightseeing opportunities are mostly
confined to the historical core of the city, known as
the Romerberg, where Charlemagne erected his fort in
medieval times. Most of the original buildings were
destroyed during World War II, but some have been
reconstructed, including the home of Goethe, Frankfurt’s
famous son who became Germany’s greatest writer. For
shopping it is hard to beat the Zeil, Germany’s
equivalent to New York’s Fifth Avenue.
With its excellent rail connections and Autobahn system,
Frankfurt is the natural hub for travellers wishing to
explore the surrounding towns and countryside. It is
also the venue for numerous trade fairs, exhibitions and
congresses, drawing about 12-million visitors a year to
these events. The largest and best known is the annual
International Book Fair, which is attended by thousands
of publishers. |