Frankfurt am Main

(3 photos)
There are two cities named Frankfurt in Germany. Frankfurt am Main is on the Main River in the middle of the country, Frankfurt an der Oder is on the Oder River east of Berlin, at the border with Poland. The word Main and Oder, or at least M and O, are needed to distinguish between the Frankfurts.

The Main River (pronounced “Mine” as in gold mine) flows through the center of the city. The locals say this one is “Mainhattan,” Main for the River, “hattan,” a reference to all the skyscrapers, as in Manhattan .
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The Römerberg Square, with the gable-shaped façade of the Zum Römer Haus, was constructed in the early 1400s. Frankfurt’s architectural devastation left only 8,683 of an estimated 44,559 buildings standing by the end of WW II. The area around the Römerberg Square and the Cathedral, were beautifully reconstructed. Römerberg Square is the location of many fairs and celebrations during the year. Perhaps the most picturesque is the “Christkindlesmarkt,” held in December.
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The Gothic Dom, Nikolaikirche, is built on foundations dating from 852 and was enlarged during the 1200s and 1300s. Near the cathedral are excavations of buildings from Roman times. The forty-tone carillon can be heard three times a day from the St. Nikolai Church (Nikolaikirche).

Grosse Brockenheimer Strasse, is known as “Fressgass” (gorge-street) because of all the restaurants. Visit Braubachstrasse (near the Römer) for engravings, antiques, and old books. Alt-Sachsenhausen offers more antiques, art galleries and the famous Saturday Flea Market. One year at this market I bought a cane for my collection, but then a few weeks later accidentally left it in a bank in Split, Yugoslavia.