Höchst old town, Germany

A ten-minute S-Bahn ride from Frankfurt Central Station takes you to the western suburb of Höchst, a charming town full of half-timbered houses and a late medieval castle.

Höchst was the site of an early Roman settlement. The current history begins around the eighth century, and soon a small town built around the Justinuskirche, built in 830, soon arose. The Prince Electorate of Mainz, who controlled the area, built the Höchster Schloss (Höchst Castle) between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries. In 1928 the city’s independence came to an end when it became part of the city of Frankfurt.

Alt Höchst, the old town of Höchst, has some of the most picturesque streets and houses in all of Frankfurt. Narrow pedestrian streets with half-timbered houses lead to the Schlossplatz (Castle Square). Here you can enjoy a pint of beer and a hearty meal while admiring the magnificent castle. The historic Justinuskirche is just around the corner from the hotel.

The white-painted watchtower Höchster Schloss dominates the old town. Originally built in the fourteenth century, the castle has been constantly improved. Work on the castle continued over the following centuries, and at the end of the sixteenth century it was expanded with a new Renaissance structure, the New Castle. In 1908, the dilapidated complex was purchased by local industrial magnate Adolf von Brüning, who opened the castle park to the public. Since 2002, the complex has been owned by the German Monument Protection Fund.

The Justinkirche, or St. Justin’s Church, is the oldest building in Frankfurt. The church dates back to the Carolingian era and was first consecrated in 850. The three-aisled church was modified during the fifteenth century, although it still retains much of its original design. The choir was completely rebuilt in the late Gothic style. The funerary altar was created in the eighteenth century in the then popular Baroque style.

One of Höchst’s most interesting sights is the Bolongaro Palace, a magnificent baroque palace built between 1772 and 1774 by the Bolongaro brothers, merchants from northern Italy. In 1813 Napoleon lived here during the conquest of Europe. The terraced garden in front of the palace was laid out in the Baroque style around the central fountain of Neptune. The balustrades along the terraced garden are decorated with sandstone figures depicting Turkish musicians.