Paulskirche,Frankfurter Paulskirche, Cradle of German Democracy and Unity

Paulsplatz 11, 60311 Frankfurt am Main

Still a symbol of freedom in Germany

3.9

Introduction

St. Paul's Church was built in 1789 and is a Protestant church with an elliptical structure. It took 44 years to complete and was finished in 1833. From 1848 to 1849, St. Paul's Church served as the location of the Frankfurt National Assembly, which held its first meeting on May 18, 1848, hence it is known as the "St. Paul's Church Parliament". During this time, the Paulskirche Constitution was drafted. However, due to opposition from Prussia and Austria, the National Assembly located in St. Paul's Church was forced to dissolve on May 30, 1849. Afterwards, St. Paul's Church was restored to its religious use until the outbreak of World War II. However, during the war, St. Paul's Church and much of inner Frankfurt were almost completely destroyed. As a symbol of Germany and freedom, it holds great historical significance in its reconstruction. Despite limited funding, it reopened during the 100th anniversary of the Frankfurt National Assembly. The interior underwent significant changes to accommodate various uses. Currently, St. Paul's Church is no longer used as a church but serves as a venue for various exhibitions and events, such as the Frankfurt Book Fair and the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.