Kaiserhofstraße
 Kaiserhofstraße seen from the Freßgass | |
| Length | 130 m[1] (430 ft) |
|---|---|
| Location | Innenstadt, Frankfurt |
| Coordinates | 50°06′53″N 8°40′29″E / 50.114609°N 8.674618°ECoordinates: 50°06′53″N 8°40′29″E / 50.114609°N 8.674618°E |
| Major junctions | Freßgass, Hochstraße |
The Kaiserhofstraße (lit., "Emperor's Court's Street") (4–19) is a short, mostly pedestrian street in the city centre of Frankfurt, Germany, located in the Opera Quarter in the western part of the district of Innenstadt, within the central business district known unofficially as the Bankenviertel (Banking District). The 130 meter long street runs from the Freßgass pedestrian main street to Hochstraße, and is situated between Kleine Hochstraße and Börsenstraße ("Stock Exchange Street"). It is located in the immediate vicinity of the Wallanlagen park, which is located just across the street to the north of Kaiserhofstraße, and of the Opera Square with the Old Opera, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, the Sofitel Frankfurt Opera luxury hotel, and some of Germany's most well-known high-end shopping streets, e.g. Goethestraße, all of which are found less than one or two minutes walk from Kaiserhofstraße. The street is also located in close proximity to numerous financial institutions.
Overview
The Kaiserhofstraße is a side street directly adjacent to the Freßgass ("Eating Street") upmarket shopping street, the western continuation of the Zeil, Germany's busiest shopping street. Freßgass became so named around 1900 because of its many high-end food shops, bakeries and butcheries, making it the most famous food shopping street serving the bourgeoisie of the Westend. Today the Freßgass is famous as the street where the bankers from the Bankenviertel meet for lunch, and for its annual wine festival. The Kaiserhofstraße is, like Freßgass, largely a pedestrian zone, with perfume shops, high end fashion boutiques, gourmet restaurants, law chambers, smaller financial institutions such as a wealth management firm and select residential apartments. The street is situated between and in close proximity to the Opernplatz (with the Alte Oper concert hall) and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (both of which are found around the block in opposite directions), and also in close proximity to Goethestraße (on the other side of Freßgass), Germany's most famous luxury shopping street. On the roof of Kaiserhofstraße 12, there is a mediterranean restaurant and bar, the Long Island Summer Lounge. The Frankfurt flagship Apple Store is located just around the corner in Freßgass, ten meters from Kaiserhofstraße. The Sofitel Frankfurt Opera luxury hotel and the Wallanlagen park are located just across the street to the north of Kaiserhofstraße.
In the early 20th century, the street was somewhat less fashionable than today, despite its very central location, and was characterised by its diversity; many artists, actors and actresses employed by the nearby opera, prostitutes and Jewish families lived on the street. A rapid process of gentrification took place later during the 20th century. A novel, Kaiserhofstraße 12 by Valentin Senger,[2] which was adapted into a motion picture by Hessischer Rundfunk in 1980, is named for the street. In the late 19th century, a local wine cellar owned by Italian-born Giovita Salini (father of the artist Lino Salini) was a famous meeting place for Frankfurt artists. The Banque Générale du Luxembourg formerly had its German offices in Kaiserhofstraße 13, while the private bank of Hauck & Aufhäuser had its offices in Kaiserhofstraße 16.
The real estate prices of the area are today among the highest in Frankfurt. The street is located within the postcode area 60313 Frankfurt am Main.
Public transport
Kaiserhofstraße is served by the nearby Frankfurt Hauptwache station (two or three minutes walk down Freßgass to the east) and the Alte Oper station of the Frankfurt U-Bahn (to the west), which is accessible from the Opernplatz, a minute's walk around the corner.
Gallery
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Kaiserhofstraße 5, at the corner of Freßgass. Built 1875 in the late Classicist style. The building is under cultural heritage protection. The Main Tower in the background.
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Kaiserhofstraße 13, former offices of the Banque Générale du Luxembourg. Built 1879. Neo-Renaissance building in the Neoclassicist tradition. The building is under cultural heritage protection.
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Kaiserhofstraße 15, built 1879. Neo-Renaissance building in the Neoclassicist tradition. The building is under cultural heritage protection.
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Kaiserhofstraße 19, with the construction year 1878 found over the entrance. Neo-Renaissance building in the Neoclassicist tradition. Main front with avant-corps and niche. The building is under cultural heritage protection.
References
- ↑ Stadtvermessungsamt Frankfurt am Main. CD-ROM „Amtliche Stadtkarten“. Cityguide, 2005. Online-Version
- ↑ Valentin Senger: Kaiserhofstraße 12. Dtv, München 1999, ISBN 3-423-11751-6
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kaiserhofstraße. |
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