Frankfurt Trade Fair
The Frankfurt Trade Fair has dominated the economic and cultural life of the city since the 12th century. The IAA and the Book Fair especially play an important role in bringing international exhibitors and visitors to the trade fairgrounds. The dome structure of the Festhalle, built in 1909, and the Congress centre of the Frankfurt Trade Fair are integrated into the trade fairgrounds.
Messe Frankfurt GmbH is one of the world's largest trade fair companies. With a total of 28 subsidiaries, five branch offices, and 52 international sales partners it is represented in more than 150 countries. At 578,000 square metres, the Frankfurt Trade Fair currently has ten exhibition halls, a central logistics centre, and an attached convention centre. Numerous well-known trade fairs are regularly held in Frankfurt and most of these are organized by the Messe Frankfurt GmbH itself. The main focus is on specialized trade fairs in the branches of textiles, consumer goods, architecture, and technology, as well as automobile.
Festhalle Frankfurt
The Festhalle is the venue for many important events, such as concerts by well-known artists and bands or sporting events, such as the ATP Tennis World Championship in the first half of the 90s and large horseshows. The first events in the year 1909 were the “Deutsches Turnfest” (German Gymnastics Festival) and the “Internationale Luftausstellung” (International Air Show). The Festhalle was built between 1907 and 1909.
The Messeturm
The architecture of the 256 metre Messeturm, or Trade Fair Tower, is modeled on the postmodern American skyscrapers of the 20s. When the skyscraper, nicknamed the “pencil”, was finished in 1991, it was the tallest building in Europe. The pyramid on the roof itself, which causes the building to resemble a “pencil”, is 36.6 metres tall. The pyramid is not accessible to renters or the public and is illuminated. For this reason, it is particularly visible on final approach to the Frankfurt Airport at twilight. Since 1997, the Frankfurt Commerzbank Tower is the highest building in Europe with a height of almost 300 metres, if one includes the antenna. The name Messeturm comes from its location southeast of the trade fairgrounds. However, it is not used for trade fair events, but rather as an office building.
Kastor and Pollux
On the right side, the two skyscrapers, Kastor and Pollux, adjoin the Messeturm. They are named after the sons of Zeus from Greek mythology, Castor and Polydeuces, and bear the Latin designations of Kastor and Pollux. Although they form the complex “Forum Frankfurt” together, each of them is an independent building. Pollux, the leftmost of the two buildings, is 130 metres tall, Kastor is 95 metres.
Europaviertel
On your right, behind Tower 185, you will find the so-called Europaviertel on the grounds of the former main freight depot. This is a city district with offices, hotels, apartments, and shopping and recreational opportunities in which around 10,000 people will work and 3,000 people will live. Tower 185 is, in accordance with its name, 185 metres tall. The actual tower protrudes from the centre of the horseshoe-shaped base building in two skyscraper halves.