In the middle of the old part of Frankfurt you can find the Römerberg, the central square of the City. Starting in the twelfth century, Frankfurt started to hold its famous fairs at the Römerberg which eventually drew people from all over Europe in and devolved on the Frankfurter messes which is now being held in other venues. Some fairs such as the book fair are being held since the early beginnings.
The Römerberg and its surrounding buildings hold a long tradition and history, perhaps most notably the “Kaisersaal” or emperor’s hall which luxuriously stretches over several buildings and holds all the portraits of the German emperors during the time of the holy roman empire.
Sold to the city council in 1405 by the Römer family the Römer building became the new city hall for Frankfurt and the seat for the towns major.
Soon the building became to small for the flourishing city and had to be expanded by several other buildings that all were interconnected in the years between 1435 and 1542.
On the night of March 22, 1944, the Römer along with the centre of Frankfurt was mostly destroyed in one of the heaviest allied bombing runs of the second world war.
The main building was restored shortly after the war and re-inaugurated by president Theodor Heuss in 1955.
In the years 1974 and 2005 the Römer regained its original look from 1900, up to this day Frankfurt is still restoring increasingly more parts of the old city.
In the centre of the square stands the “Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen” fountain of justice build in 1543 the goddess Justitia looks over the place, without here blindfolds.
Just on the south side of the Römerberg, you can find the historic Museum, the museum covers the history of Frankfurt form the modern time to the destruction in second world war and back to the middle ages.
There are several models of the area displaying the city throughout the centuries.
In front of the Museum you can find the old Nikolaikirche, an early Gothic church possibly build as early as the eleventh century.
In 1290 the church was promoted to be a court chapel for the emperor. In the fifteenth century it was then made the official chapel of the city council. nhideused1 \
