Goethe Square is located in the middle of Frankfurt‘s city centre. It owes its name to the prominent statue of Goethe in its centre. This monument was designed by Ludwig Schwanthaler and erected in 1844. Goethe Square was originally smaller than it is today. Just like the neighbouring Rathenau Square to the north, it was part of the Roßmarkt dating back to the Middle Ages. On the eastern edge are the so-called New Houses – terraced houses. The Frankfurt City Council had these built in 1666. They were used to sell the flying stalls selling pottery from the Kannenbäckerland and Franconia. The only relic of the former trading centre today is the narrow Töpfengasse between Steinweg and Roßmarkt.
Goethe Square Frankfurt: Historic flair meets modern skyline
If you walk from the Alte Oper Frankfurt in the direction of Römer Frankfurt, it is best to walk along Old Bockenheimer Street. The people of Frankfurt also affectionately call it Freßgass (Food alley), as numerous restaurants line the way here. After around half a kilometre, Freßgass leads into Goethe Square. Alternatively, you can turn into Goethe Street halfway along Freßgass. Here you will pass numerous opulently furnished shops with luxury brands such as CHANEL, Prada, Gucci, Dior, Versace, Tiffany and Rolex. This continues on one side of Goethe Square. At Goethe Square Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt shows its typical side: a mixture of old and new, historic facades and gleaming skyscrapers. If you stand in the centre of the square, you have an overwhelming view of Frankfurt’s banking skyline. On the spacious Goethe Square, seating invites you to relax and watch city life go by. In the centre of Goethe Square is a monumental memorial to Johann Wolfgang Goethe, who gave the square its name. He was born in Frankfurt am Main in 1749. The monument was inaugurated in his honour in 1844. On the plinth are reliefs with figures from Goethe’s works.
History: The Roßmarkt through the ages
Goethe Square has naturally only had its name since 1844, when the Goethe monument was erected. The central part of the large overall square ‘Roßmarkt’ is so named. In the Middle Ages, the square was still outside the city walls and was not particularly elegant. When it was integrated into the city, executions also took place here. From 1666, the square was planted with trees and turned into a city avenue. The ‘New Houses’ were built on the eastern edge, making the square narrower and chasing away the stalls of travelling merchants. The buildings were successively constructed in the neoclassical style. The square became magnificent. Unfortunately, most of the houses were destroyed by air raids during the Second World War. After the war, they were demolished to make the square larger. Today, many post-war architectural sins have been demolished or corrected.
Insider tips: Romantic cherry blossom in the centre of Goethe Square
Delicate cherry trees adorn part of Goethe Square and lend it a special charm in spring. They bloom magnificently in spring, so you can find beautiful motifs here: The cherry blossoms in the foreground and the Frankfurt skyline in the background.
Goethe Square Frankfurt is particularly atmospheric during the Advent season. Then there is a beautiful, atmospheric Christmas market here and especially on the neighbouring Roß Market. A Ferris wheel turns between the inviting stalls.
Surroundings: Frankfurt’s highlights just a few steps away
Centrally located, Goethe square is an ideal starting point for exploring the city on foot. Five minutes away is the beautiful Old Opera House, a building that is really worth seeing. On the Opera Square in front of it, you can enjoy a coffee or a meal in a great atmosphere. Directly opposite the Old Opera House is the Taunusanlage. The long green belt blooms beautifully in spring. The skyscrapers all around make it feel like New York’s Central Park. If you want to see the whole thing from above, you can be at the Main Tower in five minutes. From a height of over 200 metres, you have a fantastic panoramic view of Frankfurt. From Goethe Square in the other direction, you can quickly reach Main Station, a lively central square in Frankfurt. Here you’ll find St Katharinen Church and we particularly recommend the panoramic terrace, where you can enjoy a coffee and a truly unique view of the Frankfurt skyline. As you can see, you can reach many sights from Goethe Square Frankfurt in just a few minutes.
