A quick stop in the Altstadt (Old Town) Frankfurt Am Main, Germany with family 28 December 2019

Römerberg
(Rome Mountain)

Samstagberg
(Saturday Mountain)

Most of the buildings in the Altstadt (Old Town),  Frankfurt were just restored and was fully opened for visitors in 2019.  Around 2,000 half-timbered houses and the Römerberg were wiped out on the night of bombing by the allied forces during World War II.  Only the Haus Wertheim along the Fahrtor had survived the attack.  The Römerberg was restored after the war.  Some of the historical houses and buildings were just restored after a long and thorough discussions between the government and the citizens of Frankfurt in regard to the actual built and design before the war.

We arrived Frankfurt from Zagreb at 8:30am, an hour and a half flight operated by Croatia Airlines.  We went through Immigration control.  Afterwards, we collected the car we had rented up to our departure from Paris on 06 January 2020.  We have been in Europe since 21 December 2019.  We had paid €440.60 for the airfare.

We booked the car reservation thru Rentals.com.  The service was provided by the Europcar.  We paid a total of SGD882.23 plus one way fee for €238.  

Now that we have a car, we did not have to worry about our luggage.  We had spent the night at Düsseldorf.  But before that, we had a quick stopped at the Frankfurt Altstadt (Old Town) and Christmas Market Experience in Cologne.

Römerberg (Rome Mountain), Frankfurt Am Main, Germany

The Alstadt is surrounded by half-timbered buildings.  On the west side stood the Ratthaus (Old City Hall).  This area, which is called Römerberg, was the first and immediately restored after the bombing.  The buildings occupied by the Rathaus was named Römer, after the name of the rich merchant previously owned the building.  The Römer has been the Rathaus for 600 years.  The Haus zum Römer is in the middle of the first three on the left.  Additional buildings have been added and connected over the centuries.

At the Eastern side is what they call the Samstagberg (Saturday Mountain).   These buildings and most of in the Alstadt were just restored as part of the Dom-Römer Project (2012~2018).  Our timing was great, we were able to see these marvelous houses, the classical example of the traditional half-timbered in architectural style.  This area is also known as  Ostzeile.  To name the houses from left:  Haus Grosser Engel (Houses of the Large Angel), Goldener Greif (The Golden Claw), Wilder Mann (The Wild Man), Kleiner Dachsberg -Schlüssel (The Little Dachsberg), Grosser Laubenberg, Kleiner Laubenberg ( The Large and Small Laubenberg.) and the detached house which is actually on the south side, Schwarzer Stern (The Dark Star).  The Grosser Engel  housed the Frankfurt's first bank in the 17th century.  The Schwarzer Stern is now a restaurant using the name of the house.

Alte Nikolaikirche, Alstadt, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany

Also on the south side is the Gothic church, Alte Nikolaikirche.  During the Middle Ages, the church served for the councilors.

St Bartholomew Cathedral, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany

Behind the Samstagberg buildings is the Imperial Cathedral, the St Bartholomew Cathedral in Frankfurt.  The Cathedral was restored in 1950.

House to the Golden Libra, Alstadt, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany

Face to face to the Cathedral tower is the half-timbered house named House to the Golden Libra.  This house was part of the Dom-Project (2012~2018)

The Alstadt Frankfurt is located in the northern bank of the River Main in Frankfurt, Germany.

Haus Wertheym, Alstadt, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany

The half-timbered house on the right is the Haus Wertheym.  It is the only building that had survived the bombing during the World War II.  It is now a Cafe shop and use as office by the Museum of the City History.

Saalhof, viewed from the Eiserner Steg on the River Main, Frankfurt, Germany

The building opposite the Haus Wertheym is the Saalhof and the attached Rententurm (Customs Tower).  The original building were built in 1150 on the foundation wall of the Kaiserpfalz (Imperial Palace).  The tower was used as a Fahrtor (Driver Gate). Saalhof was later used as Custom Office where duties were collected.  The building was also used as Trading Post and Warehouse.  At present, Saalhoh houses the Museum of City History.

Eiserner Steg (Iron bridge), Frankfurt Am Main, Germany

The Eiserner Steg is the only pedestrian bridge spans across the River Main in Frankfurt.  It connects the Frankfurt city to the district of Sachsenhausen.  The bridge was blown up by the German soldier  in the final days of the World War II to prevent the allied troops from entering Frankfurt from the South.  It was rebuilt after the war and was fully renovated in 1993.  

Eiserner Steg towards the District of Sachsenhausen, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany

Eiserner Steg is also a site of love locks.

view from the Eiserner Steg, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany

Eiserner Steg offers fantastic view.  Some of the important buildings surround the beautiful River Main: Dreikönigskirche (Epiphany Church) at the Sachsenhausen, the SkyTower European Central Bank and the Saalhof at Frankfurt downtown.

view from Eiserners Steg towards the western side, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany

Paulskirche (St Pau'sl Church) Frankfurt is also situated in the Frankfurt Alstadt.  From Römerberg across Braubachstraße on the left is the Paulsplatz, where the iconic building stood.  Paulskirche is a protestant church,  It is considered as symbol of freedom.  It  was the seat of the 1848 Frankfurt Parliament, the first German Legislative Body.  The parliament was working of a constitution for a United Germany.  However, the effort was destroyed by the Prussia, Austrian Empire and other German states   Paulskirche was the first to restore after the World War II bombing in recognition for being the cradle of Germany.  In 1963, President John F Kennedy gave a speech in Paulskirche during the visit in the country.  At present, Paulskirche is not use as a church.  It holds special events and meetings.

The Alstadt Frankfurt is visited by many especially those who have a few hours lay over in the city.  Frankfurt Am Main Airport is the major international airport in Germany.  It is the main hub for Lufthansa.  The airport is the fourth busiest in Europe and 13th worldwide.  We were planning at first to go direct to Strasbourg from the airport.  Lufthansa offers airport bus to Strasbourg for a fee. We had planned to pick up the rental car in Strasbourg for less one way fee since Strasbourg and our departing city, Paris are both in France.  We were greedy, we wanted to visit as well more cities of Germany which was not a bad idea.

Set to hit the road.  Next stop, Cologne, Germany

continued from Holiday Season in Zagreb, Croatia and Christmas Markets Experience with Family 26~27 December 2019

continues to Holiday Season in Cologne, Germany and Christmas Market Experience with family  28 December 2019