Discount Hotels Frankfurt
Historical interest: Frankfurt
    
Frankfurt is a heavily industrial city, with more than 2,450 factories operating
around the 'Furt' on the Main River, where the Franks once settled. As the home
of the Bundesbank, Germany's central bank, and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange
it is Germany's financial centre and has been since the Rothschilds opened their
first bank here in 1798.
The first known written reference to Frankfurt was penned in 794 AD by none
other than Charlemagne, who promoted the city to one of his royal residences.
Frankfurt had been established as a trading centre since Roman times, and by
the 12th century, the city's famous trade fairs were attracting buyers from
as far afield as the Mediterranean and the Baltic.
Frankfurt was propelled into prominence when it was made the site of the election
and coronation of German kings, with Frederick I Barbarossa setting the tradition
in motion in 1152. The residents were able to buy their autonomy from Karl IV
in 1372, making Frankfurt a 'freie Reichstadt' (free imperial city). However,
this 'freie Reichstadt' status did not prevent the city from being occupied
on numerous occasions: in 1631 by Swedish troops during the Thirty Years War;
in 1759-63 by French troops during the Seven Years War; and again during the
Napoleonic Wars.
Frankfurt's character was strongly secular and the city was among the first
to embrace Luther's controversial ideas. Frankfurt held a significant position
in the Holy Roman Empire of Germany, which ended in 1806. At that point, Germany's
numerous principalities were reorganised into a confederation of 35 states,
with Frankfurt hosting its Reichstag. During World War II, Frankfurt was heavily
bombed by the Allies. In fact, about 80 per cent of the city centre was flattened
and 1,870 people were killed in the spring of 1944.
Today's Frankfurt is a collection of the rebuilt city and the banking district's
massive skyscrapers. Recently, Frankfurt has gained more prominence as a European
financial centre by having the seat of the European Central Bank located in
the city centre. The city has spent vast amounts of money to rebuild the historic
centre of the city to its former glory - including the Dom and the Opera. The
focus on the arts has also allowed Frankfurt to rival Berlin in its cultural
offerings.
Selection of hotels in this region:
Holiday Inn Frankfurt City-South | | Top Hotel Ambassador | | Maritim Hotel Frankfurt | | Sofitel Savigny Frankfurt City | | Comfort Hotel Frankfurt City Centre | | Hilton Frankfurt | | Le Meridien Park Hotel | |
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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