Steinernes Haus

The Steinernes Haus at Markt 44 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, is a reconstruction of a late Gothic stone patrician house first built in 1464. In a city of timber-framed houses, a stone residence was a statement of wealth and status, and the original building stood on the Markt, the street connecting the Römerberg to the cathedral on the route used by imperial coronation processions. The house was heavily damaged during the air raids of 1944, which destroyed most of the old town, and it was rebuilt after the war. The building has a steep gable, stone walls and tall narrow windows typical of the late medieval patrician style, and it stands out among the neighbouring buildings of the rebuilt Dom-Römer quarter. Today it is used by the Frankfurter Kunstverein, one of the oldest art associations in Germany, founded in 1829, which uses the interior as an exhibition space for contemporary art. Visitors therefore enter a historic shell with a changing programme of exhibitions rather than a permanent historical display. The mix of old and new gives the building a distinct role in the old town, which was largely rebuilt in the 20th century and again in the 2010s. Admission and opening times vary by exhibition, so the Kunstverein website should be checked before a visit. The location makes it easy to combine with the Kaiserdom, the Römer and the Archäologisches Museum, all within a few minutes on foot. For visitors interested in architectural history, the exterior is the main attraction, and the stop illustrates both the wealth of late medieval Frankfurt and the rebuilding efforts after the Second World War. The surrounding streets show how the old town is a mix of careful reconstructions and modern infill, which is a recurring theme of the area. Reading the information panels in the square helps to separate the original medieval fabric from the later reconstructions.