The Frankfurt Cathedral’s Gothic spire looms over the Old Town. Admire the impressive building from afar then venture inside to get a sense of its real power. Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire were elected and crowned here between 1562 and the end of the empire in 1806.
A church was built in this spot in 852 B.C. and was originally called St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral. The original structure was rebuilt many times over the centuries. Most of the features of the church today were designed in the 15th century.
Much of the Old Town area around the cathedral was destroyed in World War II and the interior of the building badly burned, although miraculously the outside of the cathedral remained standing. The interior was gutted and rebuilt in the 1970s. There are few signs that what you see today, at least from the inside, is a reconstruction of the original building. One of the few signs are the modern shapes in the stained-glass windows.
Climb the spire between April and October. A small fee will grant you access to some of the best views in Frankfurt across the gabled roofs of the Old Town to the modern skyline beyond. Tours of the main areas of the cathedral are free. Walk in the footsteps of ancient rulers and gaze up at the towering arches.
See robes and jewels of Roman emperors in the cathedral museum. Learn about the building’s rich and tumultuous history, from coronation ceremonies to fires and many building projects. There’s a fee to enter the museum, which is located to the left of the cathedral’s main entrance.
The museum is closed on Mondays, although the rest of Frankfurt Cathedral is open daily. The cathedral is an easy walk from the main train and U-Bahn stops in the Old Town. If you come by car, park in the underground car park adjacent to the cathedral on Domstrasse. There’s a fee to park in the city centre.
