Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof, Frankfurt (must see)

Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof, commonly known as Frankfurt Central Station or Frankfurt Main Station, stands as Germany's busiest and most significant railway hub.

This pivotal transportation hub came into existence on August 18, 1888, with a mere five-year construction period. Over the subsequent years, the surrounding district to the east of the station's entrance building developed and reached full maturity by around 1900. Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof retained its status as Europe's largest railway station until Leipzig Hauptbahnhof was constructed in 1915.

The above-ground portion of Frankfurt Central Station comprises two main sections: the entrance building and the train shed. The entrance building faces eastward, welcoming travelers into the terminal station and connecting to the Bahnhofsviertel (station district). The original building's facade, situated in front of the three central train sheds, boasts a Renaissance Revival design. Meanwhile, the extensions made to the entrance building in 1924, located in front of the two outer halls, adopt a neoclassical architectural style.

The width of the building spans an impressive 270 meters. At the heart of the entrance building lies the primary reception hall, featuring three doorways separated by two grand pillars at its street-side entrance. Above the center of this hall, a meticulously adorned clock showcases allegorical representations of day and night, alongside the Deutsche Bahn logo bearing the word "Hauptbahnhof." This three-part division continues in the roof area, where expansive glass surfaces permit the ingress of natural daylight.

A pair of towers graces each side of the facade, and crowning the roof is a 6.3-meter-high bronze sculpture group created by the Braunschweig sculptor Gustav Herold. This artwork portrays Atlas, who carries the globe on his shoulders, flanked by symbolic figures representing steam and electricity. Additionally, figures symbolizing trade, agriculture, the iron industry, and shipping contribute to the station's decorative and historical significance.