Getting Oriented

Getting Oriented

Legend has it that the Frankish Emperor Charlemagne was chasing a deer on the Main's south bank when the animal plunged into the river and, to the emperor's amazement, crossed it with its head always above water. A stone ridge had made the river shallow at that point. That supposedly was the origin of Frankfurt (literally "Frankish Ford") as an important river crossing. Commerce flourished from then on and to this day Frankfurt is an important center of business and finance. This is surprising since, with a population of 667,000, it is only Germany's fifth largest city.

City Center & Westend. Downtown Frankfurt includes the old city, parts of which have been carefully restored after wartime destruction: the Zeil, allegedly Germany's number one "shop till you drop" mile: the Fressgasse or "Eats Street," and the bank district. The Westend is a mix of the villas of the prewar rich and a skyscraper extension of the business district.

Sachsenhausen. Just across the river from downtown, Sachsenhausen is distinguished by the Apfelwein (apple wine) district and the Museumufer (Museum Riverbank). The apple wine district, now with every sort of restaurant and tavern, is one big party, especially in the summer when the tables spill out onto the traffic-free streets. The Museum Riverbank has seven riverbank museums, practically next door to one another.