Frankfurt

About Frankfurt Frankfurt is an intriguing city. At one end of the city is Altstadt, Frankfurt’s old town. Within Altstadt is a square called The Römerberg. This town square is one of the most historical landmarks of Europe, where in the 12 th century, was the centre of large fair trades. The Römerberg features reconstructions of the original 15 th and 16 th century houses and Alte Nikolaikirche, a small early Gothic Church possibly built as early as the 11 th century. On the other end of Frankfurt is a completely different world. There lies the largest financial centre and the largest stock exchange of the continent, Frankfurt Am Main. Boasting impressive neo-modern high risers such as the Commerzbank Tower and the Deutsche Bank Twin Towers, it is the financial world of tomorrow.

Historical development Settlements were first established by Romans in the area of Römer, probably some time in the first century. The name of Frankfurt derives from the Germanic tribe of the Franks, and furt, meaning Ford in English. Frankfurt was one of the most important cities during the Holy Roman Empire. From 855, German emperors and kings were elected in Frankfurt and crowned in Aachen. From 1562 crowning began to take place in Frankfurt, Maximilian II being the first. In 1372 Frankfurt became a Reichsstadt, or Imperial City, meaning it was a direct subordinate of the Holy Roman Emperor. Frankfurt was caught in the Napoleonic Wars and was bombarded or occupied by French soldiers. Nonetheless, it still remained a free city until the fall of the Holy Roman Empire around 1805~1806. After the defeat and abdication of Napoleon, the Grand Duchy ( ) was dissolved by the Congress of Vienna and Frankfurt entered the newly found German Confederate until 1866, when the Austro-Prussian War took place. After the end of World War II, Frankfurt became a part of the newly formed state of Hesse, consisting of the old Hesse and the Prussian Hesse provinces. Frankfurt was the original choice of the provisional capital of West Germany. They constructed a new parliament building though it had never been used for it’s intended purpose. During the 1970’s the city created one of Europe most efficient underground transportation systems – S-Bahn, a suburban rail system capable of reaching remote communities including the city centre, and the U-Bahn, a deep underground light rail system also capable of travelling above ground on street rails Frankfurt has emerged post-World War II to be the financial and transportation centre of Germany.

Statistics FrankfurtMelbourne Population~ ~ Population density (km 2 )~588~450 Size (km 2 ) Geographic coordinates50⁰6′42″N 8⁰41′9″E37⁰48′49″S 144⁰57′47″E Altitude (m)11210 GDP country/GNP~$2.938 trillion (2011 est.)~$ billion (2011 est.) GDP per capita~$ AUD (as current exchange rates) ~$ AUD (as current exchange rates) Language/s spokenGerman, EnglishEnglish Significant landmarksRömerberg, St Bartholomew’s Cathedral Eureka Tower, Federation square, Docklands

Gallery - Frankfurt Römerberg St Bartholomew’s Cathedral Deutsch Bank Twin Towers Freßgass

Gallery - Melbourne Eureka Tower Melbourne Cricket Ground Eureka Tower Federation Square

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