In Frankfurt's Station Quarter

The photographer and journalist Ulrich Mattner loves the station quarter. This is where he lives, this is where he works, this is where he enjoys the pulsating versatility of the Main metropolis, which can be experienced particularly well in the Bahnhofsviertel. This is due to the fact that the quarter is currently undergoing a noticeable upheaval. The image of the district as being dominated by drugs and prostitution has long been outdated, even though many non-Frankfurters still have it in their minds. But especially in the last few years, these defining aspects of the quarter have been pushed more and more to the margins, because the rising rents in other parts of the city, such as the Nordend, are making the Bahnhofsviertel more and more attractive for numerous Frankfurt residents. New apartments, localities and offices are attracting a whole new public to the district, which is naturally also taking on a new look as a result. Only the next few years will show how much this will ultimately differ from the previous appearance. But already now some clear changes are recognizable, which make the station quarter one of the most exciting districts of the Main metropolis precisely because of the resulting contrasts.

With "Im Frankfurter Bahnhofsviertel" Ulrich Mattner gives his district a very special declaration of love, which introduces interested readers to fifty very different highlights from the quarter. Even a brief, cursory flip through reveals a versatility that hardly reveals itself to one strolling along Kaiserstraße, walking from the city center to the main train station, or shopping in one of the numerous shops. Mattner takes a look behind the scenes in words and pictures, presenting some real insider tips as well as places that one has not dared to visit so far because of their reputation.

So he invites you to a short visit to Crazy Sexy, the running house with the most stairs, enjoys Fish & Chips in O`Reilly`s Irish Pub, listens to the music at the Orange Peel or checks into the Main Pension. He introduces the Jerome, the smallest adult cinema in town, and stops by Peters "Taunus 25", where they have the best currywurst in the whole neighborhood - a claim that could definitely be confirmed after the press tour. Afterwards, Mattner strolls with the reader through the Kaiserpassage and enjoys the view from the roof garden of the Hotel Nizza.

The beautiful pictures and the informative, sometimes also very amusingly written texts make clear again and again the nevertheless very crass contrasts, which meet in the station quarter. Here venal sex meets religion, luxury meets human misery and tradition meets modernity. This may not always be pretty - but it is exciting, colourful and full of life. And that is exactly what becomes very clear in this book. You notice that someone was at work here who knows his way around the neighborhood, who appreciates the beautiful things here just as much as the less pleasant sides, and who also respects and appreciates the many completely different people. It is simply fun to stroll through the Bahnhofsviertel with Ulrich Mattner, whether on one of his regular guided tours or in the form of this book, which is really more than just a city guide. Absolutely recommendable!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp