Altstadt (Frankfurt am Main)

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Altstadt
District of the City of Frankfurt am Main

Coat of arms

Map

Data

0.477 km²

3,472

7,281 people per km²

60311

069

Incorporation

Area district:

1 – Innenstadt I

City districts:

010 - Altstadt

Website

Altstadt or old city is a district or Stadtteil of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, located on the northern Main bank. It is surrounded by the city division of Innenstadt (Downtown).

As the historical center of Frankfurt, the Altstadt has existed from Frankfurt's beginnings, dating back to 794. It used to be part of the original Innenstadt area, which lay inside of the city walls, the Staufenmauer. Large sections of the Altstadt were rebuilt after World War II and so only a few old buildings are actually preserved. The Altstadt contains many of Frankfurt's most important sights, including the Römerberg plaza with the famed Römer city hall and many other middle-age style buildings which are mostly actually reconstructions. Nearby is the Frankfurter Dom of St. Bartholomäus and the Paulskirche, the short-lived seat of the German National Assembly in 1848-49.

[edit] General Information

[edit] Surface and Population

With a surface less than half a square kilometre is the Altstadt the smallest city section of Frankfurt. The whole district is developed except the Main, the Main bank, streets and backyards. There are no open spaces. The land development comes of predominantly from the reconstruction phase of the World War II post-war period. Beyond that there are numerous, partly (after war-time) reconstructed historical buildings.

Around 32% of the 3400 inhabitants are foreigners. This is well over the city average but far down from other city sections. The adjacent "New City" (Neustadt) for example possesses 44% non-german inhabitants.

Cultural services (museums, theaters) dominate on the west Altstadt, the latter predominantly along the Weißfrauen- und Berliner street. The central Altstadt serves primarily the tourism, around the most importants sights like the St. Paul's Church, Römer and Kaiserdom (en: Emperor's Cathedral) as well as place for the city administration. The retail trade is heavily seen on the north Altstadt, especially on the Neue Kräme street and Töngesgasse. Residential areas are mostly found on the east Altstadt. This section is also a center for art trade.