Frankfurt am Main
Frankfurt was completely destroyed during WW2. Today, it's a very modern looking city visited mostly by businessmen, or by tourists who stop here on their way to some place else. If you are looking for the "old Europe" this city is not for you... even though there are some fine museums in Frankfurt. Should you arrive in Frankfurt and require a connecting flight, the best place to overnight is at one of the hotels connecting the airport (soundproof).
Rhine Main Airport: To get to city center, take the subway marked "Bahnhof"... 12 minutes to city Railway Station. Buy subway tickets from machines.
City Transportation: The subway... S Bahn and U Bahn are the best, and the main starting points are the Bahnhof and The Itauptwache. A one day pass is available.
Romerberg: The City Hall, south of Hauptwache, at city center... an interesting blend of Burgher's Houses and modern architecture.
St. Bartholomew's Cathedral: 13 to 15th century church with a magnificent tower. Daily 9-12:30, 3-6.
Goethe's Birthplace: 23 Grosser Hirchgrabben. A house and museum...with Goethe's law books and furniture. Mon-Sat 9-6. Sun lO-1.
Stadelsches Kunstinstitut: Daily 10-5. Free on Sunday. Good examples of Van Gogh, Degas, Manet, Monet, Cezanne, and other periods of art, including a famous Van Eyck and a Vermeer.
Palmengarten: Tropical park with a lake... on Bockenheimer Landstrasse.
Opera House: Built in 1880... a dazzler.
Eschenheimer: A 15th century defense tower.
Cologne (Köln)
Cologne is the 4th largest city in Germany, and a very ancient city, but traces of the past are scarce since most of it was destroyed in WW2.
Cologne Cathedral: This is what most tourists visit Cologne to see. It's a focal point and the heart of the city, and one of the world's greatest Gothic structures. There are rich treasures inside. The height of its twin spires (515 feet) dominates the countryside. Construction was begun in 1248 and abandoned in 1520 and FINALLY completed in this century. There's a superb view of the city from the towers.
Romanesque Churches: At various parts of the city... St. Gereon, St. Maria in Kapitol, St. Pantaleon, and St. Ursula. Do not compare with the cathedral.
Home Strasse: A street closed to traffic and extremely popular with strollers and with shoppers and people-watchers.
Wallraf-Richartz Museum: Splendidly houses its great collection of Renaissance Cologne Masters... Dutch and Flemish... and modern works including Pop Art.
Schnutgen Museum: In the former church of St. Cacilia... with an impressive collection of religious art.
Romisch-Germanisches Museum: Near the"Wallraf"... containing the world's greatest collection of Roman glass and other relics of Roman rule in Germany.
Rhine River Cruises: Short cruises for a couple of days... Popular with tourists.
Author of this article is Gene Gill. For more information visit his website: Gene Gill Miniatures.
