Cheap Vacations to Frankfurt
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Historical strolls in Goethe's country
In addition to its unusual economic activities, which have been making its fortunes for centuries, Frankfurt offers unhoped-for historical and cultural riches, much to the delight of visitors.
Overview
Frankfurt still has the distinction of being a German literary capital. Indeed, did it not spawn the incomparable Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), whose birthplace (Goethehaus und Museum) stands on the banks of the Main? And does it not host one of the most prestigious international book fairs in the world?
Frankfurt also boasts a thriving cultural scene. Indeed, visitors can choose among 12 museums on the "Museumsufer," or Museum Row, which runs along the southern embankment of the Main between the Eisernensteg and Friedensbrücke bridges. Among them are museums devoted to crafts, film, architecture and modern art, as well as the Judisches (Jewish) Museum, the Senckenberg natural-history museum, the magnificent Städel -- whose rich collection not only comprises paintings by Botticelli, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Rubens and Poussin, but also works by German artists such as Dürer, Holbein, Cranach, Grünewald and Altdorfer -- and last but not least, the Schirn Kunsthalle, to name but the most popular. In fact, Frankfurt is home to no less than 137 museums, which attract 1.4 million people annually, and almost as many art galleries!
The Palmengarten is a wonderful oasis of greenery right in the heart of the city. The palm garden features 2,000 species of plants, instructive floral exhibits and a park in which to enjoy various recreational activities.
A few major historic sites and monuments have survived the ravages of World War II: the Frankfurt cathedral (13th and 15th century), Paulskirche (St. Paul's church) and the Römerberg (Roman Hill), where Charlemagne (a.k.a. Karl der Grosse, 742-814), king of the Franks, built a fort (Frankonovurd, which means "fort of the Franks"), after which the city was named.
Going Out
Frankfurt offers cinephiles and theatre buffs more than 35 cinemas and 33 playhouses. And neither are music-lovers to be left out, as the Alte Oper (opera house) reopened its doors in 1981. Restaurants and cafés offering international fare (including Italian, Greek, Japanese and Chinese food), from the most affordable to the priciest, will delight all palates. Jazz aficionados will be well served by heading to Kleine Bockenheimer Strasse, commonly known as Jazzgasse, or "jazz alley." Last but not least, the zoological garden, founded in 1858, is home to 5,000 animals of 600 different species, which draw 800,000 visitors a year.
Where on earth
About 30 km (18.5 mi) from its confluence with the famous Rhine, the River Main bathes the shores of Frankfurt, a city located in west-central Germany, in the state of Hesse. The city is home to over 660,000 people, 190,000 (or 29%) of whom hail from 170 different countries.
