Westhafen
Before we cross the River Main, you will see the former Westhafen on the right. This is being transformed by the construction of attractive modern residential complexes. The Westhafen is a former inland port, 560 metres long and 75 metres wide, and is separated from the Main by a breakwater. Since 2003, the Westhafen Tower has been located at the entrance to Westhafen. With a height of 109 metres, it is one of the smaller skyscrapers found in the city. Westhafen Tower is popularly known as the “Geripptes” or “largest cider glass” in the world because of its diamond-shaped windows. This look is strongly reminiscent of a typical Frankfurt cider glass, the “Gerippte”. Since the ground plan of the building is round and the floors are square, there are 18 conservatories between the inner and the round outer façade of the building.
Friedensbrücke (Bridge of Peace)
Our trip across the Main takes you over the “Friedensbrücke” or “Bridge of Peace”. It was rebuilt between 1950 and 1951, it is 300 metres long and rests on four river piers.
It was the only Frankfurt Main bridge that was not completely blown up in 1945. On 26 March 1945, the US Army was able to enter the city via this bridge.
On the south side of the bridge there is the bronze figure known as “Der Hafenarbeiter” or “The Harbour Worker”, forged by Meunier in 1893, and which should evoke Frankfurt's Westhafen. The dock worker wears a hood to protect him from coal dust.
The “Städel” and the “Museumsufer”
Crossing the Main, we pass the “Museumsufer” on the southern side of the Main. On the left-hand side, situated directly at the next bridge over the Main – the “Hohlbeinsteg” – you can see the museum institutions of “Städelsches Kunstinstitut” and the “Städtische Galerie”. The “Städel-Gebäude” was erected in 1874-78 in the style of Historicism and has been completely accessible since 2000 following extensive renovation work. It is one of the most beautiful and richly populated picture galleries in Europe.
Museumsufer
Frankfurt's “Museumsufer” is one of the most important museum locations in Germany and Europe. At present, 13 exhibition houses are located here at “Schaumainkai”. In 1977, the idea of accumulating different museums was propagated by Hilmar Hoffmann, then Frankfurt's Head of the Department for Culture. Between 1980 and 1990, existing facilities were expanded and new ones were built. Other great buildings and locations to be found here include:
- das Frankfurter Ikonenmuseum
- das Museum für Angewandte Kunst, früher: Museum für Kunsthandwerk, mit der Villa Metzler
- das Museum der Weltkulturen, (previously the Völkerkundemuseum)
- das Deutsche Filmmuseum
- das Deutsche Architekturmuseum
- das Museum für Kommunikation, (previously the Bundespostmuseum)
- das Liebieghaus, Museum alter Plastik
- das Museum Giersch, Museum für Kunst der Region
On the northern side of the Main, you can still find the “Historisches Museum” (Historical Museum) and the “Jüdisches Museum” (Jewish Museum). We recommend a visit to the VGF Transport Museum located in the Schwanheim district. There you will be taken on a journey through the history of urban public transport in Frankfurt am Main.