Höchst Altstadt and Justinuskirche

Höchst is a district on the western edge of Frankfurt am Main, on the Main river, with a small half-timbered old town that feels quite separate from the skyline of the city centre. The historic core lies around the Justinuskirchplatz and the Bolongaropalast area, within walking distance of the Frankfurt-Höchst S-Bahn station on lines S1 and S2, about a ten-minute walk away. The highlight is the Justinuskirche, one of the oldest churches in the Rhine-Main region, whose origins go back to the Carolingian era in the 9th century, and which has been rebuilt and extended over the centuries. Its interior combines early medieval architecture with later Gothic and Baroque elements. Nearby stands the Höchster Schloss, a castle with a tower above the Main, which has served as a residence of the Archbishops of Mainz and now hosts a local museum and cultural events. The narrow lanes, small squares and half-timbered houses of the Altstadt were spared much of the wartime destruction that hit central Frankfurt, so Höchst keeps a quiet, small-town atmosphere in the state of Hesse. A calm promenade runs along the Main by the castle, and visitors can stroll, rest on benches or watch boats. The Bolongaro Palace, a Baroque merchant's residence, is also close by. A visit usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours. The old town is free to explore, but church opening hours are limited, so visitors should confirm times with the Höchst tourist information. Crowds are small even at weekends, and the area is quietest on weekday mornings. Sunny afternoons give the best light for photographing the half-timbered facades and the castle tower against the river.