Historic Frankfurt Photo Gallery

Ascending from Hauptwache station is the edge of the old town, Altstadt. The guardhouse dates from 1730 and is 6m away from its original location. The Galeria shopping centre marks the beginning of a pedestrianized shopping street. The Protestant St. Catherine's Church was built in 1681 but destroyed in World War II. It was rebuilt in 1954. The Church of Our Lady was also destroyed in World War II. The Gothic church was originally built from the 14th to 16th centuries and was rebuilt in 1956. St. Paul's was the site where the first democratically-elected national assembly met in 1848. Interestingly, the Christmas market closed on December 23, not Christmas Eve. I arrived a day late; the workers were already dismantling the displays this morning. The Romerberg is the historic town square. These houses were completed in 1305 and was turned into City hall in 1405. Unfortunately, the Kaisersaal, or imperial hall, was closed in preparation for Christmas. Many attractions were already closed on December 24. Facing the Romerberg, St. Nicholas Church dates back to the 13th century and served as a royal chapel. Workers were busy dismantling the Christmas market in the morning, so I had to come back in the afternoon when all the commotion was over. These half-timbered houses were destroyed in World War II and rebuilt in 1986.