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Memorial · Frankfurt, Hesse
Paulskirche
Former round church where the first elected parliament for all of Germany met in 1848 and 1849. Today it is a memorial to democracy, with an exhibition about that history.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Paulskirche
The Paulskirche is a round building in the classical style, built between 1789 and 1833 as a Lutheran church. In May 1848 it hosted the Frankfurt National Assembly, the first parliament elected for all of Germany, which drafted the so‑called Paulskirche Constitution. The text served as a model for the German constitutions of 1919 and 1949.
The building burned down completely in a bombing in March 1944. It was the first historic building in Frankfurt to be rebuilt, in 1947 and 1948, with donations from across the country. Due to shortages of money and materials, the interior was left simple, with a circular gallery on the ground floor and the assembly chamber on the upper floor.
Today the Paulskirche does not function as a church. It is used for ceremonies, such as the presentation of the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, and houses on the ground floor a permanent exhibition about the building's construction, the 1848 assembly and the history of German democracy.
Admission is free. The building may close at short notice because of events, and there are plans for renovation and a visitor center next door: check before you go.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
20 to 40 minutes, including the ground-floor exhibition.
Best time
On weekdays during the day. On days with ceremonies the building closes to the public.
How to get there
It stands on the Paulsplatz, 2 minutes from the Römerberg and 5 minutes from the Hauptwache (S-Bahn and U-Bahn). Dom/Römer station (U4, U5) is about a 5-minute walk.
Tip
The exhibition has texts in German and English and digital content. Notice the façade and the tower that face the Paulsplatz, and combine it with the Römerberg next door.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Paulskirche
Why is the Paulskirche important?
There the first parliament elected for all of Germany met in 1848 and 1849. The constitution it drafted inspired those of 1919 and 1949.
Do you have to pay to enter?
No, admission is free.
Is it still a church?
No. Since the postwar reconstruction, the building has been used for ceremonies and as a memorial, with an exhibition about German democracy.