Journey Through Frankfurt - Tina Herzig

Showcasing a mecca of contemporary architecture, this travel companion explores the skyline of skyscrapers and fascinating museums that define the German metropolis of Frankfurt. The city's historical claim to fame of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe spending his childhood and youth there is described along with the 1848 national assembly at the Paulskirche, where the whole world now meets for international trade fairs along with a post-exhibition glass of traditional cider in the taverns of Old Sachsenhausen. Proving that Frankfurt is much more than just banks, trade shows, and an airport, its churches are also depicted for their great historic value, among them the cathedral of St Bartholomew's and St. Leonhard, the second oldest place of worship in Frankfurt. The beige sandstone of the main station, stock exchange, and many other buildings of interest in the heart of town is captured in a striking array of images, forming a graceful contrast to the warm red Main sandstone of the Rmer, Frankfurt's town hall. Illustrating the unique city museums, the guide likens them to a string of pearls as they line the shady shores of the Schaumain quay on the Sachsenhausen side of the river, their exhibits ranging from art and applied art to architecture, film, and sculpture. The region's abundant theater and music is discussed, providing a full program of operatic and ballet productions to fill the cultural calendar. The bustle of city life is left behind as this travel companion also considers the public parks, such as the Palmengarten and botanical gardens, with their original horticultural landscapes creating a pleasant green oasis in the midst of the commotion. Capturing Frankfurt in all its glorious variety, additional features also comment on the culinary delights of the city, its place in the history of finance, its role as a center of trade and exhibitions, and the river that bestows its special quality of life, the Main.