Tubbs' Thoughts

Frankfurt is a city many people overlook when traveling to Germany. Known for its modern architecture and financial districts, there are also some beautiful hidden gems waiting to be discovered by art lovers. Just south is the charming city of Heidelburg, a town whose landscape is art in itself. I traveled to these towns in 2023 during my spring break in Spain and found many things to fall in love with. Here are my recommendations for art lovers in Frankfurt and Heidelburg: 

Frankfurt: Classical Art and Opera 

I originally planned my trip to Frankfurt because their opera season was performing Francesca da Rimini by Saverio Mercadante, an underrated opera with a riveting storyline and fantastic music. I attended the opera on my second day in Frankfurt on a Sunday evening, which I highly recommend due to its low ticket prices (there are 20 euro tickets available for students). The opera was phenomenal, and the Frankfurt Opera Company is professional, demonstrating extremely high-level performances and professionalism. 

Between my activities, I visited the main square, featuring iconic, colorful buildings and a red-stained Gothic cathedral. The buildings in the square are relatively new, as the Cathedral was one of the few structures still standing after World War II. Despite this, it remains the center of the city and is home to many antique stores, artisan shops, and bakeries, where I found the most stunning cake I had during my trip. 

The next activity I undertook was a visit to the German Film Museum and the Städel Museum of Art. The film museum not only features film history, technology, and artifacts but also boasts its own theater, hosting special screenings. 

Important note: DO NOT take photos in the museum, specifically on floors with artifacts- you will get yelled at (I made this mistake). 

The film museum also features special exhibits, and I was there during a Women in German Film exhibition showcasing the 1930s-1940s era. This exhibition featured the stories and works of various female filmmakers, directors, and producers in Germany during the 1930s. They emphasized artists who challenged the Nazi party regime and their strict regulations of the film industry, including their limitation on women in film. They challenged norms on heterosexuality, women’s rights, and political propaganda, and many women featured resisted or fled persecution due to Jewish ancestry. 

Frankfurt’s Städel Museum of Art boasts one of the largest and renowned collections of artworks in Germany, including a few of my favorite paintings. The museum has many floors and sections, so I recommend setting aside at least two hours. Be sure to eat beforehand to have plenty of energy for walking. I was overjoyed to see the famous Idealized Portrait of a Lady by Botticelli in person alongside other old and contemporary works. 

Heidelburg: Art as a city 

Heidelberg is a stunning small town located south of Frankfurt (approximately 1 hour by train). It is a unique artistic feature, as the entire landscape resembles a painting situated between two large hills in a valley with a river. I began my visit by eating breakfast at a local cafe and getting some hiking advice from a local gentleman. He recommended I complete the ‘Philosopher’s Walk’ (a famous hike many German philosophers have taken) in the afternoon as the sunlight sets on the castle on the opposite hill, and do the castle in the morning/early afternoon so the sunlight is on the far side hill with quaint houses and pastures. 

I followed his advice and completed both hikes, including a guided tour of Heidelburg Castle. Although mostly in ruins, I recommend taking guided tours to learn about the castle’s lengthy and unique history, as well as to see the few preserved indoor areas of the castle. The picturesque red-stained stones and brick, with blue-toned windows, make for a unique, contrasting structure overlooking the Old Town of Heidelberg. 

Continuing in the Old Town, the inside of the Heidelburg Cathedral is stunning and resembles the same red-stained walls and stone present in the castle. The opposite side of the town had the ‘Philosopher’s Walk,’ where I found some sheep grazing on the nearby grass. Even the livestock next to the Old Town was like a painting. At the top of the climb, I found a lovely view of the town with a nice view of the castle, ending back on the main bridge to the square. Upon entering the bridge, I spotted some locks couples had placed, a symbol of their love as they traveled through Heidelburg. 

Overall, both Frankfurt and Heidelburg had many aspects of art I found fascinating and stunning. I enjoyed this trip so much that I made a collage of my memorabilia from the trip and kept it on my wall, constantly reminding me that art is everywhere.