Frankfurt Information

The population of Frankfurt is between 4-5 million the city like most modern European cities today is that of a multicultural city. Frankfurt’s immigrant culture is made up mostly from Turkey, Italy and the former Yugoslavia, records show that there are nationalities from over 175 countries living within Frankfurt. Religion is closely split into two major categories between Protestants and Catholics they share nearly 90% these two religions alone. The rest is made from mostly Muslims and Jews, in fact Frankfurt has Germanys largest Jewish population outside Berlin. The river Main separates the city, the southern part of Frankfurt contains the (frankfurter stadtwald) Germanys largest urban forest.

Places of Interest in Frankfurt

For tourists visiting Frankfurt there are several sights to visit, also in the summer of 2006 the World Cup will be held in Germany and Frankfurt will be one of the host cities. The city’s cathedral is stepped in history dating back as far as 1356 were kings of the Holy Roman Empire were elected. From 1562 to 1792 the cathedral was used for the crowning of emperors. The cathedral was badly damaged in 1867 and rebuilt most of what you see today dominating the skyline around it and stands at 95 metres high.

Not only those who come from Frankfurt but all German’s think of Saints Paul Church as a national monument. Building work started on this church in 1789 but was not finished until 1833 a few years later in 1848 the church became the house for the first democratically elected parliament. The first parliament was short lived as the Monarchs of Austria and Prussia, used-armed force to close it down and have parliament dissolved. The church reverted back to its original concept as a house of worship. During the Second World War the church was partly destroyed, but the interior was replaced quickly and is as you see it today. The church now has stopped for religious services and is mostly used for events and exhibitions.

Frankfurt’s opera house was built in 1880 and considered to be one of Germanys leading Opera productions. The Alte Oper suffered badly during the Second World War and only after years of campaigning was restored to its old pride in 1981. Today the building is used for shows

Frankfurt Festivals

During the year Frankfurt is home to several festivals, fairs and carnivals. Frankfurt’s most famous festival is the Rheingau-Music- Festival, this is a classical festival taken place through the summer with open air concerts. Another of Frankfurt’s major festivals is the Museumsuferfest (museum riverbank festival) this festival held along the riverbanks is an international festival with stalls selling food and crafts from around the world. This festival takes place at the end of the summer each year and attracts in the region of three million visitors. The three-day festival ends with a spectacular firework display that can be seen from miles around.

Frankfurt City of Trade

Frankfurt has three major economy’s it relies on those are finance, transport and trade fairs. Frankfurt is home to Germanys largest stock exchange and also houses the European central bank that sets rates for the German Bundesbank. Most of Germanys major commercial banks are housed in Frankfurt such as Deutsche Bank, Dresdner Bank and Commerzbank. Frankfurt has become home to many world fairs and trade exhibitions because of its excellent transportation infrastructure.

The Airport in Frankfurt is Europe’s third busiest after Heathrow and Paris. Many large trade fairs are held in Frankfurt each year such as the International Automobile Ausstellung, Book fair with over 100,000 visitors and the Linuxworld Conference.