Running in Frankfurt: the European Manhattan
- audreyubertino
- Mar 30
- 3 min read
Bordered by the Main, Frankfurt is a dynamic metropolis in the heart of Germany and a leading financial centre in Europe. Seen from the air, its skyline, studded with skyscrapers, has earned it the nickname ‘Mainhattan’. Yet, a stroll through its streets reveals a fascinating contrast between modernity and history: between glass-fronted buildings and half-timbered houses, bustling squares and peaceful riverbanks, world-renowned museums and traditional brasseries.
‘In a city like Frankfurt, one finds oneself in a strange situation; the foreigners one constantly encounters point to every corner of the world and stir a desire to travel,’ Goethe wrote in his autobiography, *Poetry and Truth*.
Built on the banks of the Main, Frankfurt is indeed a true European crossroads, in geographical, historical and economic terms.
The City of Emperors
The name Frankfurt first appears in a document dating from the late 8th century. At that time, it was known as Franconofurd, meaning ‘the ford of the Franks’. Charlemagne himself built a palace there. As a result, Frankfurt quickly became one of the largest cities in the Holy Roman Empire. From the mid-9th century onwards, German emperors were nominated there before being crowned in Aachen, which accelerated the city’s development. It subsequently became a free imperial city and, in 1250, was granted further privileges.
St Bartholomew’s Collegiate Church, often referred to as the cathedral, stands as a testament to the Holy Roman Empire, which lasted for a thousand years. Your visit to Frankfurt will no doubt take you to this building, which was largely rebuilt in the 20th century following the bombing raids. Despite its modern appearance, the Gothic cloister, the transept and the monumental tower remain from the site where emperors were crowned from 1562 until the fall of the Reich in 1806.
During your visit, you will also discover Römerberg Square. Typical of the region, it surrounds the town hall – the Römer, with its sculptures depicting German emperors and their symbolic eagle – and hosts numerous fairs, including the Christmas market.
A Grüne Soße in the heart of Sachsenhausen?
During the 16th century, artistic and commercial activities first began to flourish in Frankfurt. Following Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the movable-type printing press in the Strasbourg region, Frankfurt became home to the Holy Roman Empire’s most important book fair. The ensuing period of prosperity was to last only a century. The artisans’ uprising in the early 17th century, followed by the plague epidemic, weakened the city’s power.
There are still historic buildings dating from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. In the Sachsenhausen district, which you can explore by following one of our walking routes, there are still a few traditional houses lining the cobbled streets.
If you fancy it, take a break from your tour of Frankfurt and enjoy a glass of Apfelwein, the local cider, with potatoes topped with grüne Soße – a sauce brought over by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s grandfather when he moved to Frankfurt from Lyon! Or why not try some Frankfurter, the famous hot dog sausages, now popular all over the world.
The skyscrapers of ‘Mainhattan’
During the Second World War, Frankfurt was almost entirely destroyed by Allied bombing. This was particularly the case on 22 March 1944, when a British air raid destroyed almost the entire historic centre, killing 1,001 people instantly. The city was rebuilt, in some cases to its original design, such as the Römerberg. But in many cases, the approach taken was decidedly modern.
Although Bonn was chosen as the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949, following the elections to the first German Bundestag, at the expense of Frankfurt, the latter quickly became a leading financial centre. Today, it is one of Germany’s major cities and its leading economic hub.
This development, together with the city’s subsequent economic prosperity, led to a boom in the construction of large buildings in the banking district. Frankfurt is thus the headquarters of the European Central Bank.
As you run or walk through the centre of Frankfurt, you’ll spot the twin towers of Deutsche Bank, as well as the Stock Exchange, which is Germany’s largest trading market. In fact, it handles 85% of all German share trading! In front of it stand the two famous statues of the bear and the bull. The former symbolises falling prices, and the latter rising prices.
Run, walk or cycle with JOOKS, from St Bartholomew’s Collegiate Church to the Frankfurt Stock Exchange!
Find the Frankfurt routes and over 1,700 others on the JOOKS app.
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