Frankfurt

Unlike German cities that reclaimed much of their prewar appearance after World War II, Frankfurt erected skyscrapers -- hence the nickname Mainhattan (the Main is the river that flows through the city). Despite being only fifth in size among German cities, with a population of 650,000, Frankfurt is the country's financial capital. The city's commercial clout dates from its emergence as a major trading center in the early 13th century. Its first international Autumn Fair was held in 1240; in 1330 its Spring Fair was inaugurated. Today, these and other fairs showcase the latest in books, cars, consumer goods and technology. The city's stock exchange, one of the most important in the world, was established in 1595, and the Rothschild family opened their first bank here in 1798. The long history of trade might help explain the temperament of Frankfurters -- competitive but open-minded.

So why come to Frankfurt if not on business? Partly for its history, which spans more than 1,200 years. It was one of the joint capitals of Charlemagne's empire; the city where Holy Roman emperors were elected and crowned; the site of Gutenberg's print shop; the birthplace of Goethe (1749-1832), Germany's greatest poet; and the city where the first German parliament met. The historic district of Sachsenhausen is as gemütlich (fun, friendly, and cozy) as you will find anywhere.

Modern Frankfurt has world-class ballet, opera, theater, and art exhibitions; an important piece of Germany's publishing industry; a large university famous for such modern thinkers as Theodor Adorno and Jörg Habermas; and two of the most important daily newspapers in Germany, the Frankfurter Allgemeine and the Frankfurter Rundschau. In Frankfurt you find yourself in the heart of a powerful, sophisticated, and cosmopolitan nation. There may not be that much here to remind you of the Old World, but there's a great deal that explains the success story of postwar Germany.