Paulsplatz Frankfurt: A Testimony to German History
The smallest metropolis city in the world is rich with popular historic structures and places. Frankfurt is the historical city of coronations. With a wide option of cultural tours and attractive shopping enjoyment, there is much to discover in this city. The residents of the city hail from many parts of the world and two citizens out of three do not own a German passport. Hence it is easy to find people speaking recognizable languages and restaurants offering food of different cuisines. The culture is diverse, the atmosphere open and friendly, the traditions liberal and the sites spectacular.
Paulsplatz is a square in Frankfurt, Germany that holds the protestant St. Paul’s Church which is the place where Germany’s kings and emperors have been crowned since 1253. It is situated in between the Berliner Strasse in the north and the Römerberg square in the south. Berlin Street is to the north, the new Kräme built in the 1900s is to the east, the Old Town Hall lies in the northwest and Bethmannstraße and Braubachstraße are to the south. The square is connected to the Römerberg square to the south since the devastation of World War II in 1944.
History:
The Church
From 1270 till the 18th century the first known Frankfurt Franciscan monastery was located in this venue. Regular sermons were held in Barfüßerkirche from 1526. The last eight Franciscans left the monastery in 1529, and it was handed over to the city council. Hence the Barfüßerkirche became the main Protestant church of Frankfurt. Prominent theologians Philipp Jakob Spener and Johann Friedrich Starck and musicians like Georg Philipp Telemann attended the church. The monastic buildings were turned into a school in 1542. The Barfüßerkirche was closed in 1782 and demolished in 1786. Municipal architect Johann Georg Christian Hess oversaw the construction of a new church in 1789. The construction was delayed by the spoils of the war. It was not complete until 1833. The new church had an oval building. There was an offset tower to the south forming the main entrance. Two narrow lanes are connected to the church on the west and east following the main north-south axis of the old town.
The square is a very significant location in the Holy Roman Empire’s coronation city. It has seen key moments of history. During 1848 and 1849 the place was appointed as the city’s parliament. The Church or Paulskirche built between 1790 to 1833 stands to the south of Frankfurt’s Hauptwache. Paulskirche was constructed in a plain neoclassical design when St. Paul’s was a Lutheran church. The design in which it was constructed is typically Protestant and allowed churchgoers to listen to the sermons from wherever they were sitting. It was due to this advantage that St. Paul’s was chosen as the meeting place of the first elected legislative body of Germany. The German National Assembly held their first meeting here in 1849. Major meetings and councils were held in the church regarding the city. The city hosted Germany’s first democratic parliament. The church is famous for being the location where President John F Kennedy imparted his ‘New World Order’ speech in 1963.
The Old Exchange
Medieval monastery buildings and the school were demolished in 1838. Replacing them a block was constructed between Neue Kräme and St Paul’s Church. It was located on the northern side of the square. This was the Old Stock Exchange between 1840 and 1952. The Alte Börse was built between 1840 and 1843 by Jakob Friedrich Peiper. Berlin architect Friedrich August Stüler provided the plans. The structure was used for the trading markets in Frankfurt. It also serves as the Frankfurt telegraph offices. Germany’s corporation form GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) adopted the halls of the structure to hold their meetings. The two storied building is built with cubes of red and white sandstone. After its destruction in the war, the remaining outer walls of the building were demolished in 1952.
The Unity Memorial
It was erected in the middle of the square in 1903 to symbolize the new spirit of the city. The conflicts of the past were symbolically buried in the architecture. It is located on the square in front of the church. A contest for the monument was launched in 1898. The design of Fritz Hessemer and Hugo Kaufmann was selected by the Commission appointed by the city council. The structure consists of a three-sided obelisk crowned by a bronze allegorical figure. The base stage is made up of travertine stone. On the pedestals around the base were three pairs of figures carved in bronze. The first group represented the free bourgeoisie and the struggle for freedom. It depicts a young soldier at a weary older fighter’s feet. The next group also allegorical consisted of an Alma matter. It showed a young man satisfying his thirst for knowledge by drinking from a cup. The third group symbolized a song of freedom. It presented two men, the elder carrying a lyre and the younger carrying a sword. It represents the importance of appreciating music. These groups of figures, however, were destroyed in 1940. The metal was melted to forge supplies for the Second World War. The monument was inaugurated by Mayor Franz Adickes on October 18, 1903, the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Leipzig.
Effects of the War
St. Paul’s was severely damaged in the Second World War. The allies of World War II bombed Frankfurt am Main killing about 5,500 residents and destroying the largest medieval city center in Germany. The Eighth Air Force dropped 12.197 tons of explosives in the city. The Royal Air Force (RAF) raided the city dropping 15,696 tons of bombs on Frankfurt between 1939 and 45. Massive bombing burned the Old Exchange building down in 1944.
Post-war reconstruction used modern architecture to rebuild some landmark buildings in a simple historical style. As a tribute to its significant role in history, the first building to be rebuilt was St. Paul’s. It was reconstructed in 1789 and reopened in the 100th anniversary of the first Frankfurt Parliament. There have been some alterations in the interiors, but most of the decorative features remain historically accurate.
Present:
Paulsplatz is the largest square in Frankfurt am Main. It is the venue where the outdoor Christmas Market in Frankfurt is held annually. The market opens in late November and continues till before Christmas. It occupies a large area and garners huge crowds of Christmas shoppers. The market is one of the oldest in Germany, its origins dating back to 1393. The square is a pedestrian zone with a number of cafes and outdoor tables lined up on the eastern side during summer months. Various street festivals and processions take place in the square.
St. Paul’s is no longer used as a church. It has been adopted as an exhibit hall and used as a venue for hosting public events. Regular host events like the annual Peace Prize of the German Book Trade during the Book Fair at Frankfurt are held here. St. Paul’s Church remains a symbol of the freedom and unity of Germany.
When to Visit:
Late spring to early autumn is the best time to visit the metropolis city of Frankfurt. The summer temperature ranges from warm and sunny at 25 degrees Celsius to scorching at 35 degree Celsius. The winter is cold and rainy with low temperature but without snow. The peak times of trade fair should also be avoided because of the unavailability of affordable accommodation. The biggest of them are the Frankfurt Motor Show which takes place every other year in September and the Book Fair which occurs in mid-October.
There are two offices for acquiring tourist information. These are Touristinfo Hauptbahnhof and Touristinfo Römer.
How to Visit:
Frankfurt is an important trading center so it has an excellent railway, roadway and airway connections. Frankfurt Airport is among the busiest in Europe. The German airline Lufthansa offers the best connections. Apart from that, almost all major airlines connect Frankfurt to all the main cities of all continents in the world.
St. Paul’s is located close to the Main River. Römerberg Plaza is only a few blocks away. The nearest subway station is Dom/Römer. Willy-Brandt-Platz is another nearby subway station. The Hauptwache Station towards the north the church is a short walk from there.
Avoid rush hours and snowy days if you prefer to travel by car. During big convention parking becomes a problem. A good way to reach Frankfurt on a minimal budget is by bus. The central station Hauptbahnhof is the main terminal.
Tour:
The city center offers a number of hotels from luxury, mid-range to budget hotels to choose from. Some hotels in and around Frankfurt am Main are Jumeirah Frankfurt, Hilton Frankfurt, The Pure, Hamburger Hof Hotel and Villa Kennedy.
Tourists travel around downtown availing the Ebbelwoi Express tram. The most convenient single day sightseeing tour is the open air double decker bus. This tour allows the visitor to explore the top venues along with audio commentary relating the history and significance of the sites.
So, go ahead and visit this amazing place and explore the various tourist hotspots with your family and friends. With truly fascinating experiences on offer, the city will keep you mesmerized for years to come.