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Frankfurt

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Frankfurt am Main is a major global city located in the German state of Hesse.

Locator map of Planungsverband Ballungsraum Frankfurt Rhein-Main in Hesse
Locator map of Planungsverband Ballungsraum Frankfurt Rhein-Main in Hesse

It sits in the foreland of the Taunus mountains along the Main River. The city is the heart of the Rhine-Main metropolitan region. This region contains more than 5.8 million people. Frankfurt is part of a large urban area with Offenbach am Main. This urban area has over 2.7 million inhabitants. The city is highly connected to the rest of the world. The GaWC classifies Frankfurt as an Alpha-rated world city.

Frankfurt by Sentinel-2, 2020-07-23
Frankfurt by Sentinel-2, 2020-07-23

Frankfurt serves as a critical hub for international transportation. Frankfurt Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. It is the primary hub for Lufthansa, which is Europe's largest airline. The airport offers more direct routes than any other airport globally.

2010-07-21 A380 LH D-AIMB EDDF 06
2010-07-21 A380 LH D-AIMB EDDF 06

The city is also a major center for rail travel. Frankfurt Central Station is the second-busiest railway station in Germany. It is operated by Deutsche Bahn, the world's largest railway company. On the roads, the Frankfurter Kreuz is a massive interchange. It is the most-heavily used interchange in the European Union. About 320,000 cars use this interchange every day.

Money and finance are central to Frankfurt's economy. It is the largest financial hub in continental Europe. The city is home to the European Central Bank.

Europäische Zentralbank Frankfurt
Europäische Zentralbank Frankfurt

It is also one of the four institutional seats of the European Union. Many large commercial banks have their headquarters here. These include Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, DZ Bank, and KfW. The Frankfurt Stock Exchange is a major global institution. It accounts for more than 90 percent of the turnover in the German market. Frankfurt also hosts the world's largest internet exchange point, known as DE-CIX. This system handles massive amounts of digital data.

Frankfurt has a deep and complex history. The name comes from the Germanic tribe known as the Franks. The name originally meant a shallow place to cross the river, or a ford. The city was first mentioned in a written document in 794.

Die Frankenfurt
Die Frankenfurt

In 1372, it became an Imperial Free City. This meant it was directly subordinate to the Holy Roman Emperor. From 1562 to 1792, kings and emperors were elected and crowned here. These ceremonies took place at the St. Bartholomäus Cathedral.

Martin van Meytens 015
Martin van Meytens 015

The cathedral has a spire that reaches 95 meters in height. The city lost its sovereignty during the Napoleonic era and the Austro-Prussian War. It has been part of the state of Hesse since 1945.

The city's appearance is defined by its unique skyline. Many of the buildings are some of the tallest skyscrapers in Europe. This has earned the city the nickname "Mainhattan."

Frankfurt am Main, Germany, March 25, 2018 SkySat
Frankfurt am Main, Germany, March 25, 2018 SkySat

Other nicknames include "Bankfurt" due to its many banks. While the skyline is modern, the city also preserves its history. The Römer area is a famous part of the old town.

Frankfurter Römer
Frankfurter Römer

Recent projects like the Dom-Römer Project have helped reconstruct parts of the historic center. This area also hosts the famous Frankfurt Christmas Market.

Culture and education thrive in this diverse metropolitan area. Frankfurt is home to Goethe University and many other specialized schools. It is also one of two seats of the German National Library. This is the largest library in the German-speaking world. The city hosts the Frankfurt Book Fair, which is the largest in the world.

Messefrankfurt-messeturm-und-messebesucher
Messefrankfurt-messeturm-und-messebesucher

For art lovers, there are many museums like the Städel and the German Film Museum. The city is also very green. Roughly 52 percent of the total city area is made of green space. This includes many parks and large botanical gardens.

Frankfurt is a very diverse and international place. Half of the population has a migrant background. A quarter of the residents are foreign nationals, including many expatriates. This diversity is reflected in the 93 consulates located within the city. The largest of these is the US Consulate General. The city is also a center for sports. It is the seat of the German Football Association. The city hosts the Frankfurt Marathon and the Ironman Germany. This mix of finance, history, and culture makes Frankfurt a vital global center.

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🖼️ Images & Media (75)
File:Die Frankenfurt.jpg
Die Frankenfurt.jpg
File:Martin van Meytens 015.jpg
Martin van Meytens 015.jpg
File:Frankfurt Am Main-H Worms-Stadtansicht vom Muehlberg.jpg
Frankfurt Am Main-H Worms-Stadtansicht...
File:Frankfurt Nationalversammlung 1848.jpg
Frankfurt Nationalversammlung 1848.jpg
File:Courbet Frankfurt.jpg
Courbet Frankfurt.jpg
File:Frankfurt Am Main-Altstadt-Zerstoerung-Luftbild 1944.jpg
Frankfurt Am...
File:Frankfurt Am Main-Samstagsberg-20070607.jpg
Frankfurt Am Main-Samstagsberg-20070607.jpg
File:Frankfurt am Main Hauptbahnhof von oben.jpg
Frankfurt am Main Hauptbahnhof von oben.jpg
File:Taunus - Deutsche Mittelgebirge, Serie A-de.png
Taunus - Deutsche Mittelgebirge, Serie A-de.png
File:Frankfurt by Sentinel-2, 2020-07-23.jpg
Frankfurt by Sentinel-2, 2020-07-23.jpg
File:Frankfurt am Main, Germany, March 25, 2018 SkySat.jpg
Frankfurt am Main, Germany, March 25,...
File:Frankfurt Subdivisions boroughs.svg
Frankfurt Subdivisions boroughs.svg

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