Historisches Museum Frankfurt

The Historisches Museum Frankfurt occupies the Saalhof complex at Saalhof 1, on the north bank of the Main between the Römerberg and the Eiserner Steg, in the Altstadt of Frankfurt am Main in the German state of Hesse. The Saalhof is among the oldest building groups in the city and includes a Romanesque chapel from the Staufer era, while a modern building added to the complex houses new galleries. The museum tells the story of the city from its Roman and medieval origins through the age of imperial coronations, the 19th-century revolution and the Second World War to the present-day skyline. Visitors see archaeological finds, craft objects, paintings, historic maps and models, and a large city model that lets visitors compare the rebuilt centre with earlier layouts. Interactive displays and the Frankfurt Now exhibition give a view of contemporary urban life, while the Staufer period displays include architectural fragments and the chapel. The museum also runs a children's museum area and temporary exhibitions. A visit to the permanent exhibitions takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, and the full programme can take longer. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00AM to 6:00PM, with Thursday until 9:00PM in the new building, and is closed on Mondays. Admission to the permanent exhibitions is EUR 8, or EUR 12 for all exhibitions, with reduced rates of EUR 4 to 6 and free entry for visitors under 18. The museum lies about five minutes on foot from the Römer U-Bahn stop on the U4 and U5 lines and combines naturally with the cathedral, the Römerberg and the Caricatura Museum. Crowds are light on weekday mornings and rise on rainy weekends. Photographers find good views of the river and the old town from the museum's riverside setting.