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Freewheeling's
Jaunts & Journeys
.
Frankfurt am Main
- From Skyline to Apple Wine -
The skyscrapers are the first thing you see of
Frankfurt am Main. For many tourists, the
skyscraper skyline is the only thing they see.
Frankfurt is the gateway to Germany and
Central Europe, and tourists too often simply
pass through on their way to somewhere else.
Frankfurt has the busiest train station in the
country, the busiest airport on the Continent
and sits at the crossroads of two major
expressways. The European Central Bank is
just one of about 400 banks in the city, which
is also the home of Germany’s most important
stock exchange and of one of the country’s
largest trade-fair grounds. Frankfurt means business, but it knows how to combine business with
We’ve indexed the city by sections to make visiting Frankfurt easier, especially if you don
well. Here’s the list of what we are writing about – click to get there in a hurry – since they are n
in this order.
Streets (for shopping, strolling or just sitting in a sidewalk cafe)
Right in the middle - Zeil & Hauptwache
Something fine - Goethe Strasse & Fress’gass
Multi-culti - Sandweg & Berger Strasse
Southside swank - Schweizer Strasse
University life - Leipziger Strasse
Bankers and whores - Kaiserstrasse
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Areas
A breath of Old Frankfurt: the Roemerberg
Apple-wine pubs: Alt Sachsenhausen
Culture along the Main: Museum Row
City jungles: the Palmengarten & Zoo
The Wallanlagen:
where the city walls used to be
.
Getting Around
Driving in Frankfurt is a matter of going around in circles. There are so many one-way streets th
often forced to drive far out of your way to get where you’re going. Local public transportation (
bahn, Strassenbahn) is an excellent alternative for walkers, but almost impossible for anyone in a
wheelchair.
The tourist office has a map showing handicapped parking, but the tourist office on the Roemer c
reached by wheelchair. It’s up four steps. The parking garages in the city center are fairly expens
only one we find really comfortable for wheelchair users is the one behind the Arabella Grand H
Konrad-Adenauer-Strasse, though the one on the Roemer is accessible.
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Parking with a Handicapped Permit is free in all pay spaces and allowed in restricted zones (but
Stopping zones), and it’s a good thing because a great many of the reserved handicapped spaces a
to impossible for wheelchair users. Even where there are large level spaces, the city has created b
putting metal posts around them.
Streets and sidewalks are not in the best of condition and missing cobbled stones here and there o
Roemerberg and the Fress’gass lie in wait for the unwary. Watch where you put your feet or you
not least because this is a city of dog lovers who let their pets do what they please where they ple
In other words, Frankfurt is just as wheelchair friendly as most other cities. Because it lies in the
River valley, it doesn’t present too many "hilly" problems, but attention to the needs of handicap
has been perfunctory and half-hearted.
We’re allowed to complain, we live here. In fact, we like living here, lack of good curb cuts and
on, and you’ll find out why.
The R ömerberg
F-Blick a. Römer.19-2a.jpg (19803 Byte)
Before World War II, Frankfurt was Germany
perfectly-preserved medieval city. Allied bom
firestorm they created on the night of 22
put an end to the picturesque. When the war w
instead of trying to recreate the past Frankfur
the future. The result is the most modern skyl
Germany – Frankfurt is often called "Chicago
Main" – and the skyscrapers are still going up
a little bit of Old Frankfurt has survived or be
reconstructed on the Roemerberg ( photo left
where the original settlement stood at the Fra
across the Main River.
It’s still a center of activity and you
everything from wedding parties to political demonstrations here. In good weather you can take i
from the apple-wine pubs that set up outdoor tables. The Christmas Market is held here the four
Advent.
Haus Wertheim (now a pub – door blocked by cigarette machine so you can’t get in with a whee
the only original building on the Roemerberg. It is across from the History Museum (wheelchair
by a side door – ring for assistance – handicapped toilet). The museum’s small-scale models of F
various centuries are good.
City Hall (the Roemer) on one side of the Roemerberg and the row of eight half-timbered houses
square are remakes. The Gothic gables of the Roemer show it was thrown together from the best
houses that surrounded the original market square. The City Hall took its name from one of the h
the hill took its name from the City Hall.
Frankfurt owns vineyards and sells its wine at the "Weinstube im Roemer" just on one side of the
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It’s up steps, but in good weather tables are set up outside. There’s still one tiny vineyard within
the Lohrberger Hang, kept out of nostalgia – but most of the wine comes from the neighborhood
Hochheim am Main.
The Shirn city art gallery (limited accessibility, handicapped toilet) is a
push up a fairly steep incline on the Roemerberg. To get over to the
Cathedral and its museum (both wheelchair accessible) it’s better to
take the long flat way around along Braubachstrasse and enjoy window
shopping at the art galleries that line the street. If you do go over the hill
to the Cathedral, you’ll have a good view down into the Historical
Garden – the earliest fragment of the city that archaeologists have
unearthed.
St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral (photo right), parts of which date from the
13th century, has a superb collection of Gothic altars, most acquired
from all over Germany by the parish priest Muenzenberger. The back
walls of the naves are decorated with the coats of arms of Frankfurt’s
patrician families. Ten emperors of the Holy Roman Empire of the
German Nation were crowned in the Cathedral between 1562 and 1792.
If you can climb stairs, you can see portraits of all 52 emperors (7681806) of the German realm in the Kaisersaal (Imperial Salon) inside
City Hall. There’s no way in for a wheelchair, but there is a
handicapped toilet in the building.
Justice without a blindfold adorns the fountain in the middle of the Roemerberg, and to one side
Gothic 13th-century Nikolai Church (level entry). In the 15th century, the roof gallery served as
from which city officials could view tournaments and passion plays on the square below. In July
August, services in English and German are held Wednesdays at 6 p.m., preceded by a half
music. The church chimes are played daily at 9:05 a.m., 12:05 p.m. and 5:05 p.m.
Across Braubachstrasse from the Roemer is the Paul’s Church where German democracy got a fi
start back in 1848. Wheelchair entry is on the Berliner Strasse side. Across the pedestrian zone f
church is a row of restaurants / ice cream shops that do a rousing business as soon as the sun com
Casa del Gelato has 32 delicious flavors of ice cream.
The Zeil, the Hauptwache and Schiller Strasse
Keep going across Berlinerstrasse and up the Liebfrauenberg (it doesn’t look steep but we have t
it) to the Liebfrauen Church, continue straight on and you’ll come to the Zeil – Frankfurt
department stores and shops, the richest shopping street in Germany. (Shops are generally open 9
a.m. to 6:30 or 7 p.m. weekdays, until 4 p.m. Saturday and until 6 p.m. the four Saturdays before
It’s a pedestrian zone that’s always crowded but it’s flat and reasonably smooth; watch out for th
As a rule, the large department stores have level entry, large elevators and handicapped toilets bu
automatic front doors. Sometimes helpful passers-by will hold the door open for you and sometim
few of the stores keep their doors open.
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It’s a straight shot along the Zeil to the Konstabler Wache, a large square with a good ramp, whe
farmer’s market and occasionally festivals are held.
The Zeil begins at the Kaufhof and St. Katharine’s Church (where Goethe was baptized), just acr
street from the Hauptwache. This old guard house (reconstructed) is a good center for orientation
much can be said in favor of the coffee or the food at the Hauptwache Cafe. It’s picturesque, thou
level entry.There’s an underground shopping center at the Hauptwache on the level above the su
stations where you can take refuge on a rainy day.You can reach it by public elevator (which usu
though it smells of stale urine) from the Hauptwache.
A more pleasant but more crowded elevator in the Kaufhof w
you to the basement of the department store which opens into
shopping center. Local skateboarders have staked out space
public elevator, just at the Struwwelpeter Fountain, but we
been run over or seen an accident. You ’ll pass them on your
to the Schillerstrasse, a continuation of the pedestrian zone. O
there is a farmers’ market here where you can find good gril
bratwurst for lunch or a snack.
One of our favorite cafes was in the Schiller Passage on this
there are tables under the glass roof, ideal in cold or rainy we
However, it has now closed and we have to wait and see if th
restaurant there is as enjoyable. The Passage itself (
beautifully-renovated. It is just behind the Boerse –
Exchange. Schiller Strasse ends at Eschenheimer Turm, one
watch towers that stood at the city walls.
Another good place for coffee near the Hauptwache is the ba
cafe of Hugendubel, Germany’s largest book store. The capp
here is delicious and a bargain. The level entry (doors not automatic) to the book store is on Stein
the elevator is on the other side of the store and the aisles are a wee bit cramped for a wheelchair
Goethe Strasse and Fress ’gass
For serious eating and drinking, cross Boersenstrasse to the Fress’gass – in English you might c
Alley – whose real name is Grosse Bockenheimer Strasse. It is lined with restaurants, cafes, delis
specialty food shops, and really swings when a wine festival is going on. (The Rheingau Wine Fe
year will be 1-10 September.) Another of our "winter-refuge" cafes - under a glass roof
the Fress’gass Galerie.
In between the food shops are boutiques, but for really classy shopping go one street over to Goe
This is one of Frankfurt’s designated "bicycle streets" – cars are allowed to park here but cycles c
directions on the one-way street. The Fress’gass is cobbled and bumpy but Goethe Strasse is leve
smooth.
Alte Oper
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Both the Fress’gass and Goethe Strasse end at the Opernplatz (one of the best level street crossin
Frankfurt) where the 1870s Alte Oper (Old Opera House) dominates the square. Opera is no long
performed here; the building was finally restored many years after the war as a venue for concert
congresses, and now hosts everything from chamber music to jazz and musicals in its three halls.
The wheelchair entry is on the Reuterweg side; it’s up a ramp – ring for assistance. There is a lift
underground parking lot but it doesn’t go to street level, and the lift into the building operates on
performances. There is a handicapped toilet. The ticket office in the row of restaurants and shops
pedestrian zone across the way is level entry.
Theaters, Opera House
The City Theater (Schauspielhaus) and the new Opera House are at Willy-Brandt-Platz. Wheelch
the opera is at the side; it has a handicapped toilet. The Theater (large and small halls) is accessib
the main entry; it also has a handicapped toilet.
The City Wall Parks
The Wallanlagen – surrounded by the Ring Road – make a semi-circle around the city center wh
walls used to be. Demolition of the walls began in 1804 and after the Seven Year War the area w
into a promenade. Since then, the entire area has been maintained as an extended park. Sections
for the parts of town they are in, thus Untermainanlage, Gallusanlage, Taunusanlage, Bockenheim
Eschenheimeranlage, Friedbergeranlage and Obermainanlage. For the most part they are easy fo
wheelchair strolls.
Kaiserstrasse
The Kaiserstrasse runs from the center of town to the main railway station, passing the European
Bank and lots of other banks along the way. This is one of the banking districts in Frankfurt and
fever has taken hold. It is a lovely street, but it and surrounding streets near the railway station ar
red-light district of the city. Attempts are made periodically to relocate the prostitutes and drug a
for the most part they have remained.
That is not to say you need not shy away from it. It is easy going for a wheelchair, there are plen
pleasant and accessible cafes and restaurants along the street, and it is safe.
The popular and successful English Theater, founded and run by an American actress, is on the
Kaiserstrasse and is wheelchair accessible. The cafe attached to it is a good place to relax over co
the day or have an after-theater snack.
The Kleinmarkthalle
We have to retrace our steps now, go back to the Roemerberg and the Cathedral. Cross Braubach
from the Cathedral and the ship-shaped building you face is the Museum of Modern Art (limited
accessibility, handicapped toilet). From there, cross Berliner Strasse and not far along on Haseng
come upon the Kleinmarkthalle – the covered market.
It’s guaranteed your mouth will water as you wander among the meat and vegetable stands, and
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not go hungry because the butchers serve up grilled bratwurst and other goodies. It’s a shame tha
up counters for eating are too high for wheelchair users.
Frankfurt is a multi-cultural city (about 30% of the population is non-German) and the Kleinmar
meeting point for all the culinary cultures. Stands selling sticky-sweet Greek pastries rub shoulde
stands selling okra and sweet potatoes from Africa, aubergines and zucchini blossoms from Italy
wild strawberries and an array of cheese from France. The German butchers do best with pork, b
want lamb chops, go to the Turks.
At long last, automatic doors have been installed at both public entrances to the Kleinmarkt, but t
upstairs there’s only the freight elevator. If you want to go up in a wheelchair you’ll have to swee
somebody who has an elevator key.
South Across the River
So far, we’ve been roaming around the central city. It’s all walkable / rollable if you’ve got time
stamina and pause often enough for coffee. Now we’re going across the Main River to Sachsenh
a long time a town on its own and still independent-minded even though it’s been part of Frankfu
1390.
You can drive over or if you’re feeling really sprightly you can go across the Eisener Steg
Footbridge across the Main. The elevators at each end of the bridge usually function, but very bu
cobbled stones have to be dealt with on both sides of the river. The accessible landing stages for
boats are at the Eisener Steg on the Roemer side. From here you can take short cruises along the
longer excursions to the Rhine.
Along the river on the Sachsenhausen side, the Museumsufer (Museum Row) runs along the str
Schumainkai, five long blocks from the Eisener Steg all the way to the Holbeinsteg foot bridge (a
by steep ramp). This is also the location of the Saturday flea market. There is one handicapped
space on the entire street, but two more immediately around the corner on Schweizer Strasse.
Starting at the Eisener Steg, the museums are as follows:
Museum of Applied Arts - partial accessibility, accessible cafe, nice park - good collection o
furniture, strong on glass, porcelain and carpets from China and the Near East.
Ethnographic Museum (in a villa currently closed for renovation, not wheelchair accessible)
the South Pacific, Africa, North and South America.
German Film Museum (limited accessibility – wheelchair entry at the side, ring for assistance;
handicapped toilet; the cafe is accessible from the side and is shared with the Architecture Museu
Interactive museum tracing the development of film; special exhibitions and movie showings.
German Architecture Museum (accessible at the main entry, handicapped toilet) – house withi
strictly modern behind an old villa facade.
German Postal Museum (accessible by outside ramp to main entry, handicapped toilet)
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communications, good postage stamp collection.
Staedel (limited accessibility, handicapped toilet) – Frankfurt’s premier art musuem, strong in F
Primitives and 16th-century German Masters. Here ’s where you find Tischbein’s "Goethe in Cam
The Municipal Gallery here collects modern and contemporary art.
Liebieghaus – Museum of Ancient Sculpture (an unpaved but smooth path leads to the ramp a
entry, handicapped toilet) – Great variety of sculpture in a lovely old villa. Its cafe is an "insider
the homemade pies if you get there before they sell out. There’s one step up to the cafe.
The Holbein Foot Bridge connects Museum Row with the Jewish Museum, (accessible, wheelc
on the back side, ring for assistance; handicapped toilet), housed in the villa of the Rothschilds, o
Frankfurt’s original banking families, and the villa next door. This is an excellent museum, not le
because the history of Frankfurt is so closely associated with Jewish history. Jews have lived her
Middle Ages and this was the second-largest Jewish community in Germany after Berlin. The mu
serves not only as a showplace for objects tracing historic and religious development from the 11
onward, it also establishes a dialog between Jews and non-Jews.
Riverfront Festivals
Each August, Frankfurt celebrates its museums with
a big bash along both banks of the Main in one of the
best festivals in the city (this year 13-15 August). In
fact, the shores of the Main are a favorite spot for
events of all kinds, including open-air theater and
cinema, and a children’s playground in Summer.
The riverfront on the city side is more or less level
from the Roemer and has a smooth, paved
promenade once you get across the cobbled stones
and railway track. The riverfront on the
Sachsenhausen side is down a steep slope, with
particularly evil cobbled stones to make it worse. The
only really comfortable place to get down to it is
across from the new quarter of apartment houses, stores and offices where the slaughterhouse use
But that’s a long way from where most of the action is.
True, much of the Museumsufer Festival is at street level – most of the food booths and a lot of a
crafts vendors. But the real art and the entertainment stages are at river level. The event ends wit
fireworks display – be prepared for huge crowds.
Sachsenhausen and Apple Wine
A well-known tourist quarter is Old Sachsenhausen, a pedestrian zone of restaurants, bars and ap
pubs. Its cobbled stones are extremely bumpy and most of the buildings have several steps at the
though in good weather tables are set up outside. This is a place for hard-core party animals.
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If you are wandering through the area, watch out for the Frau Rauscher fountain
(photo right). She is the symbol of the Frankfurt apple-wine culture, and she loves
to shower passers-by.
More laid-back people will prefer the apple wine pubs nearby along Textor
Strasse and Schweizer Strasse. Wagner and Zum Gemalten Haus on Schweizer
are crowded with yuppies and locals, Zum Kanonesteppel on Textor attracts the
young business crowd and local characters. All three are wheelchair accessible to
some extent but don’t have handicapped toilets.
These are places to get real Frankfurt specialties – apple wine (ebbelwoi in
Frankfurt dialect), handkaese mit musik, green sauce and of course Frankfurter
wurst. Not the only places, to be sure, but places with authentic "Old Frankfurt"
atmosphere.
Apple wine is as cheap as water, but don’t be fooled – it contains more alcohol than beer does. If
tongue shrinks at the slightly bitter taste you can order the cloudy, freshly-made "Susse," availab
Autumn (watch out, it’s laxative). You can also order it "gespritzt" – mixed with sparkling water
restaurants put in only a dash of water.
The apple wine pubs serve hearty meals, very hearty meals. If the heaped plates are too much for
the green sauce. It’s made of seven different greens (chervil, saxifrage, sorrel, borage, parsley, ch
cress) and is usually served with hard-boiled eggs and boiled potatoes. Frankfurters say you shou
green sauce seven times in the Spring to clean your blood and recharge your vitamin supply. If y
brave, try the handkaese mit musik, a medium-soft cheese marinated in vinegar and onions. Eat i
soon understand why it’s "with music."
Schweizer Strasse
This is Sachsenhausen’s answer to the showy streets across the river, but since it has a little bit o
everything it’s not quite as showy. It’s flat and reasonably comfortable. It and its side streets are
boutiques, restaurants, art galleries, banks and bakeries – however few of them have level entry.
vegetable stands are clumped around Schweizerplatz, about middleways along the street.
Five streets converge at Schweizerplatz; Diesterwegstrasse leads to the South Railway Station a f
away, which is the site of a Sunday morning Fruhschoppen – live music and drinks to start the d
Towers over Frankfurt
While we’re in Sachsenhausen, we can go over to the Henninger Brewery to take the elevator up
Henninger Turm (Tower) for a view over Frankfurt from the revolving restaurant. The entry is ac
ramp and there are three handicapped parking spaces near the entrance. Going by car is recomme
it’s a long way from anywhere and uphill.
Another tower which gives a bird’s-eye view across the city is the Fernmeldeturm (TV Tower) o
side of town. However, it is currently closed for renovation.
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Trade Fair Grounds
Now that we are exploring areas outside the center city,
we’ll go to the Messe – the Frankfurt Trade Fair. It is
one of Germany’s best addresses for trade fairs,
particularly known for its huge shows of consumer
goods, automobiles and books that often cover all 10
large exhibition halls as well as the outdoor areas.
Some of the shows are for the trade only, but a number
are also open to the public. Particularly interesting
among these are the International Automobile
Exhibition (September of odd years), the International
Book Fair (each October), and for us a much smaller
Rehabilitation Fair (November of even years).The
Hammering Man statue ( photo right / above) that stands
just outside the Messe grounds has become one of
Frankfurt's trademarks. The original, smaller version is in Basel.
The Messe is almost totally wheelchair accessible. It publishes a brochure for handicapped visito
look at its web site www. messe-frankfurt. com
The Festhalle
Trade fairs have been held in Frankfurt for centuries; they got their start in the Middle Ages on t
Roemerberg where merchants met to exchange goods from all over Europe.
The present fair grounds go back to 1909 when the Festhalle – the cornerstone of the Messe
was the largest domed building in Europe at the time, and has been designated a historical monum
still very much in use, however, not only for trade-fair exhibits but primarily for concerts and oth
events. It is the third-largest multiple-events arena in Germany, seating up to 13,000. Something
here almost constantly, spanning the range from Tina Turner to Holiday on Ice.
The Festhalle is partially wheelchair accessible (upper level can be reached only by stairs, seatin
steps) and it has a handicapped toilet.
Jahrhunderthalle
Another major venue for concerts, theater an
the Jahrhunderthalle (photo left) in Hoechst.
built by the Hoechst pharmaceutical compan
centenary in 1963. It is situated in a lovely p
mini-lake at the front, a favorite place for loc
boat enthusiasts. Concerts, shows, exhibition
congresses are held here. It has level entry b
wheelchair users have to make arrangements
freight elevator to reach the concert hall.
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Other Streets to Explore
As we noted earlier, Frankfurt is a multi
and this is most evident along the Berger St
the Sandweg. They are among the liveliest s
the city, full of cafes, pubs, shops and altern
boutiques that are fun to explore. The going
reasonably smooth for wheelchairs, but thes
streets.
Another easy-going street of shops is Oeder
far from the city center leading away from
Eschenheimer Turm. It has some interesting
is short on cafes.
In the University area, Leipziger Strasse is the main shopping street.
As could be expected, young people feel particularly at home here. It
is a long street, too, starting at another city watch tower, the
Bockenheimer Warte ( photo right). A small shopping galleria at the
tower end of the street is easily accessible by wheelchair and the
shops have level entry.
The Bockenheimer Depot here is a former streetcar barn that has
become the home of the TAT (Theater am Turm, formerly near the
Eschenheimer Turm in the center of town). The choreographer
William Forsythe is the new director of the TAT and is planning a
mix of classical and modern theater, dance and more for the coming
season.
The Palmengarten
Exotic plants thrive in the heart of Frankfurt’s exclusive West End.
The lush park was founded in 1868 when the city acquired a collection of rare plants from Duke
Nassau. The Palm House was built the next year for subtropical flora. The Tropicarium provides
section of the plant world of the tropics – not only humid zones of rain forests and mangrove swa
also dry fog deserts, thorn forests and savannas.
Outdoors, the gardens put on a show for a great part of the year. Crocuses and narcissus announc
followed by tulips, azaleas and rhododendron. There are roses and day lilies, Summer succulents
of steppe plants. Recreational areas include mini-golf, rowboats on the pond and a miniature rail
The main entrance is on Siesmayerstrasse but parking is almost impossible in this crowded area,
there is reserved space. There is also a parking garage. Three reserved handicapped spaces are at
Palmengartenstrasse near a second entry, which is the way out for wheelchairs after the ticket off
in the evening – the barrier opens on contact. Another entry is on Zeppelinallee. All entries are le
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the most part the paths are paved and comfortable.
The public greenhouses all have level entry, and the Gesellschaftshaus where theme shows and o
are held is accessible by ramp on the West side or through the Galerie of the Palm House. There
accessible toilets on the grounds.
Two of the main annual events are the Rose Show in June and the Summer Night Festival in Aug
with fireworks.
The Zoo
Frankfurt Zoo is located practically in the middle of town so it has perforce quit breeding elephan
reducing the number of species here and replacing cages with spacious natural enclosures, it has
concentrated on quality. That makes it a great place to spend a sunny day.
The outdoor paths are smooth and relatively level, but there are ups and downs in the animal hou
Nocturnal Animal House is particularly difficult since it is very dimly lit so night animals are act
easily observed during the day. The other houses also have inclines: the Exotarium with Arctic p
and Australian lung fish; the Reptile house where visitors sometimes can watch snakes hatching.
Both entries to the Zoo – Alfred-Brehm-Platz and Rhoenstrasse – are level and there are three ha
parking spaces near the latter at the corner of Waldschmidtstrasse.
There is level entry to the restaurant at the Rhoenstrasse entrance. The handicapped toilet is locat
left of the Fritz Remond Theater (theater itself not accessible) and the key can be borrowed at the
entry.
Goethe
You can find traces of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Fra
most famous son, all over the city. Goethe was born here
August 1749. (This year is the 250th anniversary of Goeth
and celebrations are going on all over Germany. For the m
events in Frankfurt, take a look at our Calendar of Events
he spent much time traveling and lived for 57 years in W
returned home time and again.
The Goethe House in the center of town on Grosser Hirsc
not wheelchair accessible. It was reconstructed after Wor
true to the style of Goethe’s time. There is a museum nex
not far away is St. Katharine’s Church (photo left
baptized.
Sports & Entertainment
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Football and rock music fans alike flock to the Waldstadi
Stadium in the Forest - on the edge of town in Niederrad
Wheelchair entry is at Tor E (steep incline) and places fo
wheelchairs have been set aside in Blocks 19/20. You nee
permission to drive to the nine handicapped parking place
at Parkplatz 7.
The horse race track (Pferde-Rennbahn) is also in Niede
far from the stadium. It has limited wheelchair accessibili
Ice hockey is the main attraction at the Eissporthalle
East Park on the other side of town. It is wheelchair acces
steps but a steep incline from the parking lot, which has f
reserved spaces. Wheelchairs can be accommodated on th
level (no steps). There is a handicapped toilet.
Movies are popular in Frankfurt, with a cluster of cinema
center city. A new IMAX recently opened in the Zeil Gal
are accessible but don’t have wheelchair toilets.
Clubs and discos come and go, so it’s best to check the
entertainment listings in the local press and phone for inf
about accessibility. For young people, we recommend taking a look at a school internet project a
Frankfurt’s cultural and night life: www. rz.uni-frankfurt.de/schule/asf/FB1/City/City-Intro.htm w
you directly to their index page.
However, a few "evergreens" are worth mentioning. The Tiger Palace near the law courts is a po
variety theater and is accessible, though cramped. The shows and food are first class. However, t
the lower level is down 17 steps! The old favorites Jazz Keller and Jazz Haus (both in the alley b
Fress’gass and Goethe Strasse) are respectively down and up steep, narrow steps. The Jazz Kelle
music, the tiny Jazz Haus is stocked with super CDs and the drinks are hauled up over the balcon
a basket.
The Sinkkasten is good for a mix of newcomers and big acts; the Brotfabrik for bands from Easte
and Africa; the Batschkapp for newcomers ranging from punk to jazz, blues and hip-hop. The nig
Dorian Grey in the Airport attracts jet-setters and wannabes.
Festivals
Frankfurt enjoys its festivals and it seems there’s always an excuse to have one. Street festivals a
festivals are held in various parts of town all Summer and Autumn. They are accessible but do ge
Waeldchestage, a celebration peculiar to Frankfurt, is held at Pentecost in the City Forest near th
It’s bumpy going over unpaved ground, but try it if you like music tents, cotton candy and fun
atmosphere.
Another fun-fair takes place twice a year, in April and September, near the Eissporthalle. It
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Dippemesse, which started out as a pottery fair. You can still buy pottery, but that takes a back s
rides and beer tents.
Frankfurt celebrates Fasching, which you may know better as pre-Lenten Mardi Gras, with a Su
parade, but it’s nowhere near as big a bash as Carnival on the Rhine (Cologne, Duesseldorf, Main
Restaurants & Hotels
Please tell us if you would like to see a Very Opinionated Freewheeling Guide to
Frankfurt Hotels and Restaurants. Click the symbol for an e-mail form.
Frankfurt Airport
The Frankfurt airport calls itself a little city; it is more like a little world. Click below for a comp
in Freewheeling’s Guide to the Frankfurt Airport.
More Information
The city has published a hefty book of accessible addresses, "Wegweiser f ür Menschen mit
Behinderungen," designed primarily for residents but with some information helpful to visitors. I
map of the city center marking reserved parking and accessible telephones and toilets. It is availa
city information office (level entry) on the Roemerberg.
For more information about Frankfurt, take a look at the city's web site www. frankfurt
Comprehensive information for handicapped persons is available from CeBeeF, Frankfurt
Handicapped Persons and Their Friends - internet: www. cebeef.de
© 1999 Linda White
Photos: © 1999 Linda White
Frankfurt Airport Guide
For excursions from Frankfurt click: Mainz
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