# data[].attributes.body
Has 60 beer gardens in the city

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
World Famous Beer Garden!! - Review of Hofbrauhaus, Munich, Germany - Tripadvisor

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Hofbrauhaus: World Famous Beer Garden!! - See 30,139 traveler reviews, 18,823 candid photos, and great deals for Munich, Germany, at Tripadvisor.

# data[].attributes.body
Known as the business and finance capital of Germany

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This article was most recently revised and updated by

Frankfurt am Main, English Frankfurt on the Main, city, Hessen Land (state), western Germany. The city lies along the Main River about 19 miles (30 km) upstream from its confluence with the Rhine River at Mainz. Pop. (2011) city, 667,925; (2000 est.) urban agglom., 3,681,000.

© pure-life-pictures/Fotolia

History

There is evidence of Celtic and Germanic settlements in the city dating from the 1st century bce, as well as Roman remains from the 1st and 2nd centuries ce. The name Frankfurt ("Ford [Passage or Crossing] of the Franks") probably arose about 500 ce, when the Franks drove the Alemanni south, but the first written mention of Franconofurt stems from Charlemagne's personal biographer, Einhard, in the late 8th century. The Pfalz (imperial castle) served as an important royal residence of the East Frankish Carolingians from the 9th century through later medieval times. In the 12th century the Hohenstaufen dynasty erected a new castle in Frankfurt and walled the town. The Hohenstaufen ruler Frederick I (Frederick Barbarossa) was elected king there in 1152, and in 1356 the Golden Bull of Emperor Charles IV (the constitution of the Holy Roman Empire) designated Frankfurt as the permanent site for the election of the German kings.

Frankfurt am Main was a free imperial city from 1372 until 1806, when Napoleon I made it the seat of government for the prince primate of the Confederation of the Rhine. In 1810 the city became the capital of the Grand Duchy of Frankfurt, created by Napoleon. From 1815, when Napoleon fell, Frankfurt was again a free city, where in 1848-49 the Frankfurt National Assembly met. From 1816 to 1866 the city was the seat of the German Bundestag (Federal Diet) and thus the capital of Germany. After the Seven Weeks' War in 1866, Frankfurt was annexed by Prussia and thereby lost its free-city status. It was only after its integration into a united Germany that Frankfurt developed into a large industrial city.

The contemporary city

Until World War II, Frankfurt's Old Town, which had grown up around the imperial castle, was the largest medieval city still intact in Germany. The Old Town was mostly destroyed by Allied bombing campaigns in 1944, however, and was subsequently rebuilt with multistory office buildings and other modern structures. Among the city's most famous old structures are the Römer ("the Roman"; formerly the site of the Holy Roman emperor's coronation ceremonies and now Frankfurt's city hall) and two other gabled houses on the Römerberg (the city square surrounding the Römer). Other historical landmarks include the 155-foot- (47-metre-) tall Eschenheimer Tower (1400-28); the red sandstone cathedral, which was dedicated to St. Bartholomew in 1239; and the Paulskirche, which was the meeting place of the first Frankfurt National Assembly.

Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. Subscribe today

International trade fairs have been held in Frankfurt since 1240, and the city is now a leading commercial, financial, and high-technology centre. There is an important stock exchange (first established in 1585). The Rothschild family started building its international banking empire in Frankfurt. The city also is the home of the European Union's central bank. Annual book, automobile, and computer fairs are popular events, and there are many other fairs held throughout the year. Manufactures include automobiles, machinery, chemical and pharmaceutical products, printing materials, and foodstuffs. The city is traditionally known for its production of high-quality sausages (frankfurters).

European Central Bank© Einstein/Shutterstock.com

Frankfurt has long been a key stopping point for river, rail, and road traffic from Switzerland and southern Germany northward along the Rhine River to the Ruhr region and across the Main River to north-central Germany. It is still the chief traffic hub for western Germany and has also been an important inland shipping port since the canalization of the Main in the 1880s. Frankfurt Airport is the largest airport in Germany and one of the busiest in Europe.

Johann Wolfgang Goethe University of Frankfurt (1914) is among the largest institutions of higher education in Germany. The Frankfurt am Main City Zoological Garden is one of the country's finest zoos. Among the city's other attractions are the Städel Art Institute and Municipal Gallery, the Senckenberg Natural History Museum, and the Liebieghaus Museum of Sculpture. The birthplace of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was burned to the ground in World War II but was later restored. Adjoining it is the Goethe Museum and Library.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Adam Augustyn, Managing Editor, Reference Content.

Learn More in these related Britannica articles:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Frankfurt am Main | History, Population, Points of Interest, & Facts

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Frankfurt am Main, city in western Germany that lies along the Main River about 19 miles upstream from its confluence with the Rhine River at Mainz. There is evidence of Celtic and Germanic settlements in the city dating from the 1st century BCE, as well as Roman remains from the 1st and 2nd centuries CE.

# data[].attributes.body
7 exciting things to do in the Black Forest

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
7 Amazing Things To Do In the Black Forest, Germany | The Travelista

# data[].attributes.body
Has most bridges of any city in the world

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Köhlbrandbrücke

The Köhlbrandbrücke is one of the most remarkable landmarks of Hamburg. Completed in 1974, it is almost 4-km-long, and high enough for ships to pass underneath. The bridge dominates the harbour skyline, and, in turn, from its heights you can enjoy a beautiful panorama of the busy harbour, the port, and the HafenCity district.

Überseebrücke

Literally the "Ocean Bridge", Überseebrücke is a covered pedestrian bridge that connects the Hamburg harbour to its largest jetty. The Überseebrücke was first built in 1930, and rebuilt almost three decades later after the destruction caused during World War II. Its special construction consists of five parts that allow the bridge to adapt to the changing water levels during the high and low tide.

Brooksbrücke

The steel arcs of the Brooksbrücke lead into the Speicherstadt warehouse district. The bridge was completed in 1887, and one of its unique characteristics are the statues that adorn its four corners. The original statues were lost in World War II, and replaced with the current ones between 2003 and 2006. The north end of the bridge is decorated with statues of Hammonia and Europe, whereas the south is adorned by statues of FrederickBarbarossa and St. Ansgar.

Kibbelsteg

The Kibbelsteg is, in fact, a construction of multiple bridges on several levels. It begins at Zollkanal and connects the city centre with the Speicherstadt and HafenCity. The main function of this bridge is to ensure safe pedestrian passage during storm floods on the Elbe river. The Kibbelsteg is not only photogenic itself, it also offers great views across the canals.

Poggenmühlen-Brücke

The Poggenmühlen bridge is one of the most famous bridges of Hamburg, yet it is almost impossible to find a photo of the bridge itself. The views from it are simply too picturesque to look around and see anything else. It is from here that the most classic photos of the Speicherstadt warehouses are taken.

Ellerntorsbrücke

The Ellerntorsbrücke was built in 1668 and is one of the oldest stone bridges in Hamburg. Its three arches cross the Herrengrabenfleet canal, and for centuries this bridge served as the main route between the old town and the town of Altona, now a district of Hamburg.

Lombardsbrücke

The three picturesque arches of the 69-metre-long Lombardsbrücke separate the inner and the outer Alster Lakes. The wooden bridge that once stood here was replaced by the current road and rail bridge in 1865. Directly behind it is the Kennedybrücke, constructed in 1953 and renamed in honour of John F. Kennedy in 1963.

Feenteichbrücke

Erected in 1884, the brick arch of the Feenteichbrücke connects the picturesque Feenteich - "fairy pond" - with the Alster Lake. The street over this bridge is, quite appropriately, called "the beautiful view" ( Schöne Aussicht). From here you can enjoy magnificent views across the lake and admire the opulent villas along its coast.

Krugkoppelbrücke

The three-arched Krugkoppelbrücke over the Alster was built in 1928. Its iron concrete core is decorated with beautiful clicker brick and terra cotta tiles, and the parapet carries the coat of arms of Hamburg. This bridge is the best vantage point for those seeking splendid views across the sailing boats on the large Alster Lake and the city panorama with its towers and church spires.

Baakenhafenbrücke

Completed in 2013, the Baakenhafenbrücke is one of Hamburg's youngest and most modern bridges. The 170-meter-long and 2,300 tonnes heavy construction is the biggest bridge in the new HafenCity district. Its opening was an important milestone for beginning construction works of the Baakenhafen district of the HafenCity. The middle of the bridge can be lifted using power of the tides to let large ships pass.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Köhlbrandbrücke The Köhlbrandbrücke is one of the most remarkable landmarks of Hamburg. Completed in 1974, it is almost 4-km-long, and high enough for ships to pass underneath. The bridge dominates the harbour skyline, and, in turn, from its heights you can enjoy a beautiful panorama of the busy harbour, the port, and the HafenCity district.

# data[].attributes.body
Capital Germany, home of brandenburg gate

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
October 1806: Napoleon steals a statue
Built between 1788 and 1791 by Prussian King Frederick William II as a key entry point to the city of Berlin, Brandenburg Gate was topped off with a statue known as the "Quadriga," which depicted a statue of the goddess of victory driving a chariot pulled by four horses. The statue remained in place for just over a decade, before falling into the clutches of Napoleon Bonaparte and his Grand Army. After occupying Berlin that fall and triumphantly marching beneath the arches of the Gate, Napoleon ordered the Quadriga dismantled and shipped back to Paris. The horse and goddess were hastily packed up in a series of crates and moved across the continent. Napoleon, perhaps preoccupied with the crumbling of his recently established empire, appears to have forgotten about the statue, and it languished in storage until 1814, when Paris itself was captured by Prussian soldiers following Napoleon's defeat. The Quadriga was returned to Berlin and once again installed atop the Brandenburg Gate, this time with one change: As a symbol of Prussia's military victory over France, an iron cross was added to the statue. The cross was later removed during the Communist era, and only permanently restored in 1990 during the unification of Germany.

January 1933: Hitler comes to power
After a meteoric rise to power at the head of his Nazi Party and a power struggle with German President Paul von Hindenburg, Adolf Hitler was appointed to the position of chancellor on January 30, 1933. That evening, the new chancellor was treated to a torchlight procession through Berlin, as thousands of brown shirted stormtroopers and SS members passed under the Brandenburg Gate to the presidential palace, where Hitler and high-ranking members of the Nazi Party were cheered. It was the first of many large-scale propaganda events held by the Nazis as they tightened their control over Germany in the years leading up to World War II. The end of the war destroyed much of Berlin, but the Brandenburg Gate survived, albeit with heavy damage. In one of the last cooperative measures before the erection of the Berlin Wall in 1961, the East and West Berlin authorities worked together on its restoration. Once the wall went up, however, access to the Gate, located in what was now East Berlin, was cut off.

June 1963: "I am a Berliner"
Almost two years after the Berlin Wall was erected, John F. Kennedy delivered one of the most famous addresses of his presidency to a crowd of more than 120,000 gathered outside West Berlin's city hall, just steps from the Brandenburg Gate. Like Ronald Reagan after him, Kennedy's speech has been largely remembered for one particular phrase. In Kennedy's case, it was in German-poorly spoken German, some believed. Kennedy had tried out a variation of the "I am a Berliner" line in an earlier speech, and worked on the German passages with his speechwriters and State Department translators to ensure the correct pronunciation, going so far as to spell the possibly tricky phrases phonetically. In the 50 years since Kennedy's speech, German linguists have chimed in on the debate, insisting that the president's grammar was essentially correct and that contrary to popular belief, he did not try to turn a Cold War moment into a culinary one by erroneously announcing to the crowd, "I am a jelly doughnut."

June 1987: The line that almost didn't happen
Ronald Reagan had visited Berlin once before in his presidency, in June 1982, when he addressed West German dignitaries and a crowd outside the city's Charlottenburg Palace, affirming America's support for the city of Berlin and its people. Five years (and three Soviet leaders later), Reagan prepared to return to West Berlin to celebrate the city's 750th anniversary. The preceding years had seen an escalation in rhetoric on both sides (with Reagan famously referring to the USSR as an "Evil Empire"), but also the first noticeable "thaws" in the Cold War in nearly a decade, including the Reykjavik Summit in Iceland the year before and ongoing negotiations that would result in an arms treaty in late 1987. Although authorship of the 1987 Berlin speech's most famous line remains in dispute, there is little doubt that Reagan's advisors were almost as deeply divided about whether he should use the potentially inflammatory words, as the city of Berlin was itself. Some feared antagonizing Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, with whom Reagan had built a successful working relationship. Others on Reagan's team, fearful of charges that the administration had gone "soft," argued that the time had come for a full-throated challenge to the Communists. The back and forth over the text continued for almost a year, but in the end Reagan made the final decision to keep the line in, and on June 12, 1987, he addressed not just the crowd of more than 20,000 gathered at the Brandenburg Gate itself, but millions of listeners in the Unites States, the Soviet Union and around the world, thunderously calling for Gorbachev to "tear down this wall."

December 1989: Lenny takes Berlin
One of the most emotionally charged moments in the history of the Brandenburg Gate involved musicians, not politicians. Just weeks after the November 1989 opening of the Berlin Wall, American conductor Leonard Bernstein held a series of concerts in music halls on both sides of the famous divide. Leading an international orchestra comprised of musicians from the four countries that had occupied Berlin following the end of World War II (France, England, the United States and the Soviet Union, which would itself collapse just two years later), both concerts featured performances of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Bernstein, however, eager to honor the momentous historical change afoot, made a crucial change to the work's famed final movement, known as the "Ode to Joy." Tweaking the original 18th century text by poet Friedrich Schiller, Bernstein substituted the German word Freiheit for the word Freude, and led a group of singers from two leading East and West German choirs in an emotional rendition of what was now the "Ode to Freedom." The first of the two concerts, held in West Berlin, ended at midnight on December 23, the same moment that the Berlin Wall became permanently and fully open; the second was held two days later, on Christmas morning, in East Berlin. Both concerts were broadcast to tens of thousands of spectators gathered at the Brandenburg Gate and throughout the two Berlins, and it was the first television events transmitted to both East and West Germany in more than 30 years.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
October 1806: Napoleon steals a statue Built between 1788 and 1791 by Prussian King Frederick William II as a key entry point to the city of Berlin, Brandenburg Gate was topped off with a statue known as the "Quadriga," which depicted a statue of the goddess of victory driving a chariot pulled by four horses.