"Global City" Frankfurt am Main by Ramonq

Frankfurt is one of Germany's most important city. It is a German hub of finance, communication and transport. It's majestic skyline attests to that. Towering above the old city, you will see high-rise skyscrapers that would be more at home in newer financial hubs like Singapore or Dubai. As one the of world's greatest trading nation, the German economic might is proudly exhibited here. Frankfurt means business and all the best infrastructure to ensure that business flows efficiently are effectively put in place. Lufthansa, the German flag carrier uses Franfkfurt as its main hub to the world. Businessmen and eurocrat accountants fly in to Frankfurt to have meetings at the headquarters of some of the largest conglomerates in the country. Germany's largest banks such as Deutschebank and Commerzbank have headquarters here. Frankfurt is so good at what it does that the city was chosen as the headquarters for the European Central Bank (ECB) in 1998. Since the late 1980's Frankfurt has been going upwards to accommodate the ever growing economy with some of the tallest buildings this side of Europe. Frankfurters have always been an entrepreneurial lot. During the late 1500's, when the city opened the bourse, Frankfurt was one of Germany´s most prosperous, that the church reformist, Martin Luther, called city as "a hoard of silver and gold!"

Euro monument

This is incredible considering that the city was severely destroyed during the Second World War. The old city centre was almost decimated by the Allied air strikes. The Romer Haus, which stood as Frankfurt's Town Hall since the the 15th century were laid to ruins. But look at it now and they have completely restored many of the heritage buildings into the original architecture. Most of the tourist attractions in Frankfurt are on the northern bank of the Main River. The Altstadt is where the medieval town started with the Frankfurter Dom dominating the skyline. This gothic church has witnessed the history of Frankfurt and Germany from a small town of the Franks (hence the name Frankfurt) where trade fairs were held under Charlemagne in the 8th century to the global financial superpower today. During the Holy Roman Empire, Catholic kings were crowned in this cathedral and when reformation came, German emperors were crowned here too. Frankfurt had a long imperial history for Germany. During the industrial age, Frankfurt built an impressive Opera House and a cavernous railway station ushering the era of prosperity for the city. Alas, WW2 destroyed most of the important buildings in the city, but German industriousness has brought back Frankfurt to its feet. Many of the heritage buildings that you now see are merely reconstruction of the old self.

Having a beer at Romer Platz

Frankfurt today is a city on the move. The S-bahn and U-bahns whisk people throughout the city with great efficiency. The Hauptbahnof is a major junction that connects the city to all the principal centres of Europe. Frankfurt has grown outwards rapidly that it is threatening to gobble up nearby cities like Wiesbaden, Mainz and Hanau into its fold. Many of the residents from these cities now commute to Frankfurt for work.

The main pedestrianised shopping street called Ziel Strasse is abuzz with the latest merchandise from around the world. It's a First World efficient city where you can get whatever you want effortlessly. The best place to observe the modern skyline of Frankfurt is across the river Main from a park around the Holbeinsteg Brucke. But it is in beer gardens around the city and the ubiquitous makeshift wurst stalls that one can truly enjoy the spirit of Frankfurt. Cheers!

• Pros:Good transportation hub
• Cons:Reconstructed buildings
• In a nutshell:European Finance City