Welcome To Geocaching
in Frankfurt am Main
Explore the City
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About
Unique Geocaching Experience
Geocaching is a hobby exercised by millions of people all over the world. It involves finding "caches", or boxes, that are carefully hidden at specific coordinates, by other geocachers. While there are several types of geocaches, the classic one provides the geocacher with coordinates directly, and a multi cache leads one to several different locations first, which help to find the final coordinates, where the box is hidden. Scroll down to take a look at my latest multi-geocache, and the locations it involves!
Below, the multi Geocache made on the 06th of January 2019 will be described with a map, images, as well as location details and answers to all stations.
Location Details
Messe Frankfurt
Since Mayor Walter Kolb, after the second world war, announced that Frankfurt were to be a trade city again, reconstruction and expansion of the Messe exhibition grounds were initiated. Through convincin companies, sponsors and organizers, the Messe Frankfurt gradually became known worldwide. The IAA (International Automobile Exhibition) first took place in Frankfurt in 1953 and the sanitation and heating exhibition in 1959. As well, many others, such as the textile, music, book and ambiente fairs, that are all rooted in the Messe Frankfurt, still take place to date. The Messe is an extremely important location in Frankfurt, earning 669 million euros yearly, and generating 3.6 billion euros outside of the exhibition grounds, through hotels, taxis, and restaurants, needed by people staying in Frankfurt during an exhibition.
Old Opera House
The old opera house was once called the new opera house before its destruction in the second world war. The new opera house opened in 1880, having Mozart's "Don Giovanni" being performed in the presence of Kaiser Wilhelm I. After a citizen's initiative in the 1980's, the opera house was rebuilt. Only a portion of the old opera house is destroyed again, in a fire from 1987, though it is quickly re-opened in 1991. Today, the Opera house is a significant part of Frankfurt’s culture and history, hosting new world premier’s almost yearly (last one being in 2016; Anna Toll by Michael Langemann).
Deutsche Bank Greentowers
Since a large renovation took place in the Deutsche Bank (DB) towers in 2011, the DB describes their skyscrapers as "Greentowers". The renovation itself already indicated the green aspect that was being promoted, because 98% of the materials used by the DB were recycable. 67 percent of heating costs are saved yearly, by air conditioning regulated through water exchange in the ceilings, as well as windows opening and closing automatically to adjust the room temperature. In addition, water is saved through rainwater collectors and re-use of drinking water for the toilets. Not only do the greentowers symbolize innovation, but also economy, due to the Deutsche Bank being one of the oldest and most lucrative banks in germany.
Römer
The Römer is Frankfurt's town hall and was purchased by the city council in 1405. Since then, nine buildings and multiple inner courtyards have been added to form the present-day Römer complex. The Römer halls from one of the buildings also used to serve for markets and fairs, until 1846. The national assembly met in Frankfurt's town hall as well. The Römer was rebuilt in 1945, after it's destruction in the second world war. While the town hall itself is already famous, the Römer Balcony is especially known, because many celebrities, such as Queen Elizabeth, waved down at the croud by Römerberg when visiting Frankfurt.
Rebuilt Old Town
The Dom-Römer project, or rebuilt old town, was initiated to connect the Dom (St. Bartholomew's Cathedral) with the Römer "bring new life to the city's historic centre”. The city council planned to reconstruct "historical alleyways, romantic squares, picturesque courtyards and grand patricians' houses”. Covering an area of more than 7 hectares, the rebuilt old town includes 15 exact reconstructions and 20 new interpretations. While the upper floors of the buildings offer a total of 80 apartments, the ground floors are premises for catering establishments, craftsmen and trade. The most famous famous building of the rebuilt old town is the "Goldene Waage", located at the address Markt 5.
Dom
The Frankfurt Dom, also known as St. Bartholomew's cathedral, originated as a chapel of the Carolingian empire. Built in the 8th century, the cathedral is historically significant, also because german kings were elected here from 1356 on. As well, emperors of the holy roman empire were crowned there, from 1562 to 1792. Luckily, the Dom was one of the few landmarks to be untouched in the second world war, causing only ornate windows to be shattered through bomb impact. Those were later replaced with tinted glass windows. Kerstin Wegemann describes the Dom as "the heart of the old town", and adds that the cathedral has a “Surprisingly short nave" and "vibrant red interior”, in her work, Journey Through Frankfurt.
Museum Giersch and Final Location
As for the Museum Giersch, the geocacher is highly encouraged to visit the location themselves. Not only does the museum have a detailed account of Hessen's culture and art, but the history of the museum itself can also be unraveled when visiting it. Therefore, instead of posting information on museum Giersch, I encourage you to find out more about it yourself! There will not be any information about the final location either, because it may reveal where the container is hidden.