Römerberg (Square), Frankfurt

Römerberg (Square), Frankfurt (must see)

Römerberg ("Roman Mountain") is the town hall square lying in front of (and subsequently named after) the Römer complex, the seat of the Frankfurt city administration since the 15th century. As the site of numerous imperial coronations, trade fairs, and Christmas markets, this square marks the historic heart of the medieval Altstadt (Old Town) and is a popular tourist destination. In the 20th century, Römerberg was the scene of many major events, both joyful and not so. On May 10, 1933, the infamous book burning organized by the Nazi German Student Union took place here. Between 1932 and 1939, the internationally renowned Römerberg Festival had been held here every summer, with nearly 350 open-air theater shows performed during the period.

Much of Römerberg's historical heritage, consisting of partly Gothic and partly Baroque architecture, was destroyed by Allied air raids in 1944. Today's square is the result of externally true to the original reconstructions and new buildings raised in the 1950s-1980s. The eastern part of Römerberg, also known as Samstagsberg (Saturday Mountain), represents a row of historical half-timbered houses, namely: Großer and Kleiner Engel, Goldener Greif, Wilder Mann, Kleiner Dachsberg, Großer Laubenberg, Kleiner Laubenberg, and Schwarzer Stern, built between 1981 and 1984. The name “Saturday Mountain” possibly comes from an open-air court that was held here every Saturday during the Carolingian era, when the Königspfalz Frankfurt lay east of the square. The Frankfurt Jews were only allowed to enter Römerberg during the fair, otherwise, they had to go to the Saturday market.

To the north, there are four new buildings featuring Neo-Gothic, Neo-Renaissance, and Neo-Baroque styles, replacing the six old houses demolished in 1906. In the south, Römerberg is presided over by the early Gothic Alte Nikolaikirche (Old Saint Nicholas Church). The new building of the Historical Museum, also located on the south side of the square, at the entrance to Saalgasse, was opened in October 2017.

The Fountain of Justice has been in Römerberg since 1543.

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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Römerberg (Square) on Map

Sight Name: Römerberg (Square)
Sight Location: Frankfurt, Germany (See walking tours in Frankfurt)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

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.
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
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
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
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

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