What remains of the Königspfalz in Frankfurt today?

Archaeological foundations survive and are displayed in the Kaiserpfalz Franconofurd exhibition beneath the Stadthaus.

Where was the Königspfalz located relative to today's cathedral?

It stood on the cathedral hill, on the exact site now occupied by St Bartholomew's Cathedral.

Who founded the Königspfalz of Frankfurt?

It was founded in the early 9th century by Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne, replacing an earlier Merovingian royal estate.

Why did it take so long to find the site of the Pfalz?

Its remains lay buried under later medieval buildings and were only uncovered through archaeological excavation after the destruction of the Second World War.

Königspfalz Frankfurt

Frankfurt am Main

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No visits on recordNo opening hours or ticketing found

Where: Frankfurt am Main

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Königspfalz Frankfurt stands in Frankfurt am Main (Frankfurt am Main), in Hesse, Germany. No visits are on record for this building.

The Königspfalz of Frankfurt am Main refers to the royal residence built on the cathedral hill, in the heart of the old town, on the very spot where St Bartholomew's Cathedral now stands. Founded in the early 9th century under Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne, it replaced a 7th-century Merovingian royal estate and served as a base for Carolingian and later Ottonian rulers before losing its residential role from the 11th century onward. Buried beneath later medieval urban development and then destroyed in Second World War bombing raids, its exact location was only confirmed through postwar archaeological excavations. Its remains can now be seen in the Kaiserpfalz Franconofurd exhibition, housed within the Stadthaus built as part of the Dom-Römer project.

What to know

The visible remains are displayed in the Kaiserpfalz Franconofurd exhibition, in the basement of the Stadthaus, near the cathedral.
No above-ground structure of the Carolingian and Ottonian Pfalz survives, only archaeological foundations shown on site.
The site lies within the rebuilt Dom-Römer quarter, close to St Bartholomew's Cathedral and the Römerberg square.
No opening hours, admission fees or accessibility details are given here, so it is best to check directly with the exhibition before visiting.

Where this château is

Frankfurt am Main · Frankfurt am Main · Hessen

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Address

Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main

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Frequently asked

What remains of the Königspfalz in Frankfurt today?: Archaeological foundations survive and are displayed in the Kaiserpfalz Franconofurd exhibition beneath the Stadthaus.
Where was the Königspfalz located relative to today's cathedral?: It stood on the cathedral hill, on the exact site now occupied by St Bartholomew's Cathedral.
Who founded the Königspfalz of Frankfurt?: It was founded in the early 9th century by Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne, replacing an earlier Merovingian royal estate.
Why did it take so long to find the site of the Pfalz?: Its remains lay buried under later medieval buildings and were only uncovered through archaeological excavation after the destruction of the Second World War.