Frankfurt Cathedral (Cathedral of St. Bartholomew), Frankfurt (must see)
Frankfurt Cathedral is a Gothic-style Roman Catholic temple dedicated to Saint Bartholomew. This is the main and by far the largest religious site in Frankfurt 鈥� the height of its spire reaches 95 meters. Despite the name 鈥� Kaiserdom (Imperial Cathedral), or simply the Dom, 鈥� it has never been a cathedral in the true sense of the word but is only called so for its importance as a former coronation church of the Holy Roman Empire.
The present building on the site is the third one. The very first church (Merovingian chapel) was built here in the 7th century, which was then replaced, by a grander temple, in 1250. In 1356, Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor issued the Golden Bull whereby all emperors of the Holy Roman Empire were to be elected in this collegiate church as kings of Germany; from 1562 to 1792, all emperors-elect were crowned here.
In 1867, Saint Bartholomew's was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in its present style. During WWII, between October 1943 and March 1944, the Old Town of Frankfurt was devastated by the Allied Forces' air bombardments. The cathedral also suffered severe damage; its interior burned out completely and was reconstructed only in the 1950s.
Saint Bartholomew's houses many splendid works of art, including a unique high altar and the Maria Schlaf altar found in Saint Mary鈥檚 chapel. Also, there is an Anthony Van Dyke painting, 鈥楾he Lamentation鈥�, and a museum with many historic pieces including objects discovered in a grave of a Merovingian girl.
Why You Should Visit:
Admission is free and, if lucky, you may enjoy some impressive organ music, too, or take in panoramic views of Frankfurt from atop the cathedral's tower (for a small fee).
Tip:
Try and go on a weekday to avoid the weekend crowd; make sure to bring a bottle of water if you decide to climb the tower.
The present building on the site is the third one. The very first church (Merovingian chapel) was built here in the 7th century, which was then replaced, by a grander temple, in 1250. In 1356, Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor issued the Golden Bull whereby all emperors of the Holy Roman Empire were to be elected in this collegiate church as kings of Germany; from 1562 to 1792, all emperors-elect were crowned here.
In 1867, Saint Bartholomew's was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in its present style. During WWII, between October 1943 and March 1944, the Old Town of Frankfurt was devastated by the Allied Forces' air bombardments. The cathedral also suffered severe damage; its interior burned out completely and was reconstructed only in the 1950s.
Saint Bartholomew's houses many splendid works of art, including a unique high altar and the Maria Schlaf altar found in Saint Mary鈥檚 chapel. Also, there is an Anthony Van Dyke painting, 鈥楾he Lamentation鈥�, and a museum with many historic pieces including objects discovered in a grave of a Merovingian girl.
Why You Should Visit:
Admission is free and, if lucky, you may enjoy some impressive organ music, too, or take in panoramic views of Frankfurt from atop the cathedral's tower (for a small fee).
Tip:
Try and go on a weekday to avoid the weekend crowd; make sure to bring a bottle of water if you decide to climb the tower.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Frankfurt. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Frankfurt Cathedral (Cathedral of St. Bartholomew) on Map
Sight Name: Frankfurt Cathedral (Cathedral of St. Bartholomew)
Sight Location: Frankfurt, Germany (See walking tours in Frankfurt)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Frankfurt, Germany (See walking tours in Frankfurt)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Frankfurt, Germany
Create Your Own Walk in Frankfurt
Creating your own self-guided walk in Frankfurt is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Old Town Walking Tour
The German city of Frankfurt, also known as Frankfurt am Main, has a long and complex history, spanning more than a thousand years. The Romans established a military camp called "Nida" in the area that is now Frankfurt, on the northern bank of the River Main, in the 1st century AD.
The town itself was founded by the Franks, a Germanic tribe, in the 9th century. Its name comes from... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
The town itself was founded by the Franks, a Germanic tribe, in the 9th century. Its name comes from... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Shopping Streets
Frankfurt may well be an international business center in the first place, but not everything, by far, revolves here around finance. The city can also provide a top shopping experience for those seeking to invest in international and best German designer merchandise.
"Frankfurt is a shopping paradise - if you're a bird!" they say. This is a humorous way of saying that Frankfurt... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
"Frankfurt is a shopping paradise - if you're a bird!" they say. This is a humorous way of saying that Frankfurt... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Jewish History Walking Tour
The history of Jews in Frankfurt dates back almost 900 years, which is more than in any other German city. Attesting to this fact alone is one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Europe, the Old Jewish Cemetery of Frankfurt, first recorded in the 12th century.
At some point, the city was even referred to as "Jerusalem of the West", highlighting its importance as a center of Jewish life... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
At some point, the city was even referred to as "Jerusalem of the West", highlighting its importance as a center of Jewish life... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Historical Churches Walking Tour
Today Frankfurt is a predominantly secular city, but it still has a significant Christian presence.
The history of Christianity in Frankfurt dates back to the Middle Ages when, as a free city-state, it became an essential segment of the Holy Roman Empire. As the city grew, so did its Christian community. Several important churches appeared during that period, including the Old Nicholas Church... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
The history of Christianity in Frankfurt dates back to the Middle Ages when, as a free city-state, it became an essential segment of the Holy Roman Empire. As the city grew, so did its Christian community. Several important churches appeared during that period, including the Old Nicholas Church... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Frankfurt's Best Authentic Restaurants
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