Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof, Frankfurt

Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof, Frankfurt (must see)

Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof, commonly known as Frankfurt Central Station or Frankfurt Main Station, stands as Germany's busiest and most significant railway hub.

This pivotal transportation hub came into existence on August 18, 1888, with a mere five-year construction period. Over the subsequent years, the surrounding district to the east of the station's entrance building developed and reached full maturity by around 1900. Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof retained its status as Europe's largest railway station until Leipzig Hauptbahnhof was constructed in 1915.

The above-ground portion of Frankfurt Central Station comprises two main sections: the entrance building and the train shed. The entrance building faces eastward, welcoming travelers into the terminal station and connecting to the Bahnhofsviertel (station district). The original building's facade, situated in front of the three central train sheds, boasts a Renaissance Revival design. Meanwhile, the extensions made to the entrance building in 1924, located in front of the two outer halls, adopt a neoclassical architectural style.

The width of the building spans an impressive 270 meters. At the heart of the entrance building lies the primary reception hall, featuring three doorways separated by two grand pillars at its street-side entrance. Above the center of this hall, a meticulously adorned clock showcases allegorical representations of day and night, alongside the Deutsche Bahn logo bearing the word "Hauptbahnhof." This three-part division continues in the roof area, where expansive glass surfaces permit the ingress of natural daylight.

A pair of towers graces each side of the facade, and crowning the roof is a 6.3-meter-high bronze sculpture group created by the Braunschweig sculptor Gustav Herold. This artwork portrays Atlas, who carries the globe on his shoulders, flanked by symbolic figures representing steam and electricity. Additionally, figures symbolizing trade, agriculture, the iron industry, and shipping contribute to the station's decorative and historical significance.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Frankfurt. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: 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 (Main) Hauptbahnhof on Map

Sight Name: Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof
Sight Location: Frankfurt, Germany (See walking tours in Frankfurt)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Frankfurt, Germany

Create Your Own Walk in Frankfurt

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.
Jewish History Walking Tour

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
Historical Churches Walking Tour

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
Shopping Streets

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
Old Town Walking Tour

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

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


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