Perhaps you’ve heard of Frankfurt’s former “social hotspot” Griesheim. Today it has blossomed into a district with enhanced quality of life. Its location provides a decisive advantage. It offers picturesque living by the river.
Griesheim became a western district of Frankfurt am Main on April 1 1928. It lies north of the Main. Around 23400 people call Griesheim home.
Griesheim borders Nied to the west. Sossenheim, Rödelheim, and Bockenheim are to the north. Gallus and the Gutleutviertel lie to the east. Schwanheim is to the south. The Main separates it.
Let’s take a walk around Griesheim. We will explore what makes it special.
Griesheim boasts a rich history. Even before Roman times, two old roads from Mainz crossed its territory. One road passed the Nidda bridge near Nied. It went through the Griesheim municipal forest. The other road ran along the Mainufer to the Frankfurter Domhügel.
In post-Roman times, Griesheim was first mentioned around 850. It was then known as Groezesheim. The Reichsabtei Lorsch owned a farm, fields and meadows here. Another mention as Griegesheim from the year 965 can be found in the Nassau documents.
In 1684, Griesheim came into Kurmainz possession. Since 1474 it had been under Hanau-Mainz double rule. Since then, the district has carried the Mainz wheel in its coat of arms.
The chemical factory Griesheim was founded in 1856. It was on the western edge of the settlement. The Griesheim chemical site is older than the chemical plant in Höchst.
Griesheim was connected to the German railway network in 1871. This happened via the Hessian Ludwig Railway. In the same year, the Catholic parish was founded in Griesheim. The Catholic Church Mariä Himmelfahrt was consecrated in 1897.
A major explosion in 1901 killed 26 people. Over 200 were injured. The entrance portal of the Griesheim cemetery still commemorates this today.
In June 2010, Benno Schubert was honored. He was the last mayor of independent Griesheim. A small park was named Benno-Schubert-Park. A memorial plaque and a mammoth tree commemorate him. They stand in the green space at the southern end of the Schöffenstraße. It is directly on the Griesheim Mainufer. He paved the way for incorporation into Frankfurt in 1928.
Living by the river Main is beautiful. The Mainufer has southern flair. Industry is far away. Instead, sailboats are moored in the water. You can take a relaxed walk. Watch the boat traffic.
Griesheim is also a firm fixture for ships. The monumental Griesheim weir was built from 1929 to 1932. It has a power plant in Bauhaus style. It was long considered the most modern and efficient inland waterway facility in Europe.
Griesheim’s Europabrücke to Schwanheim is Germany’s oldest motorway bridge. The first Main bridge was built in 1934/1935. Today’s Bundesautobahn 5 was originally planned as a uniform route. It was to run from Hamburg via Frankfurt am Main to Basel.
The old Griesheim is gone. Now it is a vibrant district with much to offer.