Messe Frankfurt
Since the 12th century, trade fairs have largely dominated the economic and cultural life of Frankfurt. The International Motor Show (IAA) and the Book Fair, among others, are the main reasons for the leading international role of the city as a trade fair location. The exhibition grounds are also home to the domed “Festhalle”, built in 1909, and the Messe Frankfurt Congress Center.
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 distribution partners, it is present in over 150 countries.
Numerous well-known trade fairs are regularly held in Frankfurt, most of which are organised by Messe Frankfurt GmbH itself. The primary focus is on trade fairs involving the textile, consumer goods, architecture and technology, and automotive sectors respectively.
Festhalle Frankfurt
The “Festhalle” is a venue for numerous key events, such as concerts by well-known artists and bands, or sporting events such as the ATP Tennis World Championship during the first half of the 1990s as well as major equestrian tournaments.
The first events held in 1909 were the 2German Gymnastics Festival” and the “International Air Show”. The Festhalle was built between 1907 and 1909
MesseTurm
The architecture of the 256-meter-high “MesseTurm” is a post-modern reference to the American high-rise buildings of the 1920s. When the skyscraper nicknamed “the Pencil” was completed in 1991, it was the tallest building in Europe. The pyramid on the roof alone, which bears a resemblance to that of a “pencil”, is 36.6 metres high. The pyramid is not accessible to tenants or the public, and is illuminated for all to see. It is therefore, particularly visible at dusk during a landing approach to Frankfurt Airport. The name MesseTurm is derived from its location southeast of the exhibition grounds. However, it is not used for trade fairs, but rather as an office building.
Europaviertel (European Quarter)
To your right, and behind Tower 185, you will find the “Europaviertel” or European Quarter on the site of the former main freight station. Here, a district with offices, hotels, apartments as well as shopping and leisure facilities is being created in which roughly 10,000 people will work and nearly 3,000 people will live. Tower 185 is 185 metres tall. The actual tower rises from the centre of the horseshoe-shaped base building in two halves.