Bankenviertel
Westend
About
Frankfurt's love affair with the world of finance began as long ago as the Middle Ages, when traders from all over Europe brought their wares to the city for sale. Over the past few decades, Frankfurt has developed into one of the world's most important financial metropolises. Most German banks now have their head offices in the Taunus area, as do the European Central Bank and numerous other major international institutions. The wish to be the biggest and the best is reflected in the financial district's skyline, affectionately known by locals as 'Mainhattan' because of its mass of skyscrapers. In September, some of these buildings are open to the public for a 'skyscraper festival', when visitors can climb to the top of the Commerzbank building (258m) and enjoy the view from the twin towers of the Deutsche Bank (155 m) and the Messeturm (256m).
