The city hall and St. Marien

Our tour has now reached the old market square and the medieval Rathaus (city hall) (10) with its decorative Gothic gables. The construction of the building (which was originally a shop and open-air court room) started immediately after Frankfurt received its city charter in 1253. Professor Axungia held his inaugural lecture here on 22 January 1506, marking the beginning of lectures at the University of Frankfurt.

St. Marien (11) , Frankfurt's former main church with its five naves, can be seen from here and is still connected to the market square by a small lane. It was built mainly between the 13th and 15th centuries and, thanks to extensive reconstruction work, is now accessible again. (The choir windows which originated from the last third of the 14th century were returned from Russia in 2002). The church played a varied and important role in the history of the university. The Viadrina's grand opening took place here on 26 April 1506. St. Marien served as university church and faculty of theology - for a long time the most important of the four faculties. Theological debates probably took place in the southern choir annex (Martyrchor).