Römerberg

Frankfurt, Germany, Germany

---

Römerberg (meaning "Roman Mountain") is Frankfurt’s historic central square and the heart of the medieval Altstadt (old town), located directly in front of the Römer building complex, which has served as the city administration’s seat since the 15th century. Though its name suggests a Roman origin, it actually derives from a house called “Zum Römer,” and the square has been a marketplace, fairground, and site of imperial coronations, elections, tournaments, and festivals since the 9th century, even becoming the most beautiful square in the Holy Roman Empire by the 16th century. The square is famous for its picturesque row of ornately gabled half-timbered houses (including the Großer Engel, Golden Griffon, and Wild Man), which were largely destroyed in the 1944 air raids but reconstructed from 1986 onward according to historical plans, giving visitors a vivid sense of the city’s medieval charm. At its center stands the Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen (Fountain of Justice), Frankfurt’s first fountain dating from 1612, featuring the blindfolded goddess Justitia holding scales and a sword as a symbol of fair judgment. Römerberg hosts major events year-round, most notably the world-famous Frankfurt Christmas Market in December, and is also the site of a 1933 Nazi book-burning plaque in the cobblestones, serving as a somber reminder of that dark chapter. Nearby landmarks include the Old St. Nicholas Church, the Historical Museum, Frankfurt Cathedral (to the east), and the Main River promenade (to the south), making it a quintessential Frankfurter photo motif and top tourist destination.