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Attraction · Frankfurt · Updated on 1 November 2026.

St. Catherine's Church in Frankfurt

St. Catherine's Church is an attraction in Frankfurt, Hesse. This place has a story in the app. 47 of the 50 well-known points of interest nearby are within 1 km. Within 60 m you'll find a public toilet, a bike pump, a bench and a water point.

Directions in Google Maps
St. Catherine's Church in Frankfurt
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Photo: Mylius · Wikimedia Commons · GFDL 1.2View the photo on Wikimedia Commons
St. Catherine's Church in Frankfurt, photo 2
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Photo: Dontworry · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons
St. Catherine's Church in Frankfurt, photo 3
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Photo: DXR · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

The story

Wikipedia ↗

Story · St. Catherine's Church

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You're standing at St. Catherine's Church, right in the heart of Frankfurt, close to the Hauptwache square. It's the largest Protestant church in the city. Start with the tower. It's 54 metres tall, and it sits on the north side rather than the front. There was a good reason for that: the church stood right next to the old city wall, so the builder, Melchior Heßler, had to improvise. Until the early twentieth century, this was the second tallest building in Frankfurt.

Read the whole story in the Outdoor Pitstop app: check in at this place and it is yours (with Pro; new users are Pro for the first 4 weeks).

Opening hours and admission

Opening hours
Mon-Sat 10:00-18:00
Wheelchair
Accessible

Source: OpenStreetMap and Wikidata.

Photos

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons. In the app you add your own photo when you are there.

St. Catherine's Church in Frankfurt
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Photo: Mylius · Wikimedia Commons · GFDL 1.2View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

St. Catherine's Church in Frankfurt: the largest Protestant church

St. Catherine's Church in Frankfurt is a Protestant church dating from 1681. It is the largest Protestant church in the city. Telemann was once responsible for the church music here, and the organ is still played regularly. Goethe's parents attended services here, and the poet later came here himself. You will find the church on Zeil at number 131. The Hauptwache is 58 metres away, the Paulskirche is a 244-metre walk and the Römer is 345 metres away.

What you can see at St. Catherine's Church

The tower is 54 metres high and stands on the north side, not at the front as you might expect. From the outside the building is plain. Inside it is simple too, with white walls and a wooden ceiling that recalls a vaulted roof. On the west gallery, near the organ, hang 8 paintings. There used to be many more, but the galleries they hung on have not been restored. Also look out for the 17 stained-glass windows by Charles Crodel, which show stories from the Bijbel. On weekdays you can visit the church outside services, from 2 to 6 pm.

Ways the church was rebuilt after the war

Originally, this site had a church, a hospital and a monastery from medieval times. The church that stands here now was built between 1678 and 1681, with Melchior Heßler as the master builder. It was the first new church in Frankfort since the reformation. In March 1944, heavy air raids destroyed the old city centre. This church burned out completely too. The hands of the tower clock stopped at the moment of the bombing and stayed still for 10 years. The reconstruction was finished in 1954. The exterior regained its old appearance, but the interior was debated for a long time. The paintings survived, because they had already been removed before the war.

Accessibility and opening hours at St. Catherine's Church

The church is open to visitors Monday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 18:00. We have no times for Sunday. This information comes from OpenStreetMap and was checked on 4 October 2026, so it is worth checking in advance whether the church is open. We have no information about tickets. The church is wheelchair accessible, so you can also enter in a wheelchair.

Toilets, drinking water and benches nearby

St. Catherine's Church is a short walk from several useful facilities. The nearest public toilet is 30 metres away, at An der Hauptwache, and it is free to use. There are 7 public toilets within 500 metres. For a drink, the closest water tap is 56 metres away at Hauptwache-Brunnen, and 4 water taps are within 500 metres. If you need a rest, the nearest bench is 47 metres from the church, at Friedrich-Stoltze-Platz, and 76 benches stand within 500 metres. Cyclists will find a bike pump 38 metres away at Holzgraben, which is also free to use, and there are 2 bike pumps within 500 metres.

Walking and more to see nearby

Within 1,172 metres of the church there are more attractions and a museum. From St. Catherine's Church you can walk one route past the Hauptwache, St. Paul's Church and the Römer. At St. Paul's Church and the Römer you can listen to an audio story, so you hear more about each place as you go. Then carry on to the Imperial Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew. It lies 510 metres from St. Catherine's Church, and an audio story is also available there. If you have more time, the Städel Museum makes a good final stop. This museum lies 1,172 metres from the church and is the furthest spot on this route. You can also listen to an audio story at the museum. All these places are attractions in the centre of Frankfurt am Main, so you can make the route as short or as long as you like.

Facilities near St. Catherine's Church

The nearest pitstop of each kind within 1 km, as the crow flies. No honesty box within 1 km.

Well-known points of interest nearby

50 well-known points of interest nearby, those with an audio tour first. 47 of the 50 well-known points of interest nearby are within 1 km.

Städel Museum
MuseumAudio story · 2 min

Städel Museum · 1.2 km

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Photo: Simsalabimbam · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons
Römer
AttractionAudio story · 2 min

Römer · 340 m

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Photo: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 deView the photo on Wikimedia Commons
Imperial Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew
AttractionAudio story · 2 min

Imperial Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew · 510 m

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Photo: rupp.de · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons
Senckenberg Naturmuseum
MuseumAudio story · 2 min

Senckenberg Naturmuseum · 2.1 km

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Photo: Mylius · Wikimedia Commons · GFDL 1.2View the photo on Wikimedia Commons
St. Paul's Church
AttractionAudio story · 2 min

St. Paul's Church · 240 m

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Photo: Jörg Braukmann · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

Hear the story of Städel Museum on the spot with the app

All 135 points of interest in Frankfurt →

Also within walking distance

The 5 nearest points of interest with a story, within 2 km.

  1. 1HauptwacheAttraction · 60 m away
  2. 2Goethe HouseAttraction · 260 m away
  3. 3Museum MMKMuseum · 410 m away
  4. 4Frankfurter EngelMemorial · 580 m away
  5. 5Alte OperAttraction · 620 m away
All 135 points of interest in Frankfurt →

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Frequently asked questions

What are the opening hours of St. Catherine's Church in Frankfurt?

St. Catherine's Church in Frankfurt is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00. On weekdays, this excludes services.

When was St. Catherine's Church in Frankfurt built?

St. Catherine's Church was built between 1678 and 1681.

How tall is the tower of St. Catherine's Church in Frankfurt?

The tower of St. Catherine's Church is 54 metres high. It stands on the north side of the church, because the building lay directly next to the old city wall.

Is St. Catherine's Church in Frankfurt wheelchair accessible?

Yes, St. Catherine's Church is wheelchair accessible.

What can you see inside St. Catherine's Church photos?

Inside, you can see 17 stained-glass windows by Charles Crodel, and 8 paintings on the west gallery, by the organ. The interior is deliberately simple, with white walls and a wooden ceiling that resembles a vault.

What is there to visit near St. Catherine's Church?

The Hauptwache in Frankfurt is 58 metres from St. Catherine's Church. St. Paul's Church in Frankfurt is 244 metres away, and the Römer in Frankfurt is 345 metres away.

Nearby

More well-known points of interest nearby

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