Historical Churches Walking Tour (Self Guided), Frankfurt

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 (Alte Nikolaikirche), first built as a chapel in the 12th century, being one of the oldest churches in Frankfurt, and the 14th-century Church of Our Lady (Liebfrauenkirche). It is in reference to this house of worship that the expression "To see the light of the Liebfrauenkirche" was used to describe a moment of clarity or enlightenment.

For many years, Frankfurt was regarded as the city of the crowned kings, being the site of imperial coronations held at the Frankfurt Cathedral, aka the Cathedral of St. Bartholomew (Kaiserdom St. Bartholomäus).

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the city was at the heart of the Reformation movement in Germany, and in the 19th century, saw an increase in Catholic congregation. A prominent religious site from that period, St. Paul's Church (Paulskirche), is also notable for its role in German political history. In 1848, it housed the first democratically elected German National Assembly, nicknamed “St. Paul's Parliament” (Paulskirchenparlament). In this regard, Frankfurt was dubbed "the city of the Paulskirche," effectively marking the church as a national historic monument and a symbol of German democracy.

Religious or not, everyone is likely to be impressed by the architectural splendor or historical significance of Frankfurt's churches. We invite you to take this self-guided walking tour and explore some of the city's most formidable temples.