Römer (city hall) and Römerberg (city hall square) are cardinal locations in Frankfurt history. The Gothic triple gable front of three former patrician’s houses from the 14. century forms the prominent façade of the Römer. Acquired by the Frankfurt City Council in 1405, the houses have since then served as the representative city hall. During the Middle Ages the Römerberg was the scene of Frankfurt fairs and station in the elections and coronations of German kings.
The middle building of today’s city hall contains the halls used for fairs and markets until 1846, above is the Kaisersaal with the 52 pictures of emperors. Today, the Römer is the seat of the city council assembly and of the mayor/mayoress.
The Römerberg today is used predominantly as venue for diverse official events, for example welcome celebrations for the national soccer team, political meetings, music festivals and prizegivings, for example the German Book Prize.