“Gallows” is an unusual origin for a church’s name. Today we stand before Sankt Gallus. The area where Sankt Gallus stands was once Frankfurt’s execution site. Many criminals met their end here. This area was outside the city walls in the Middle Ages.
The road to the gallows led through the Galgentor. This gate was considered Frankfurt’s most beautiful. Nearby was the Galgengasse with the Galgenbrunnen. In 1783, the Galgenbrunnen was modernized. A statue of Saint Gallus was added. The Galgenbrunnen became the Gallusbrunnen. The Galgengasse and Galgentor were renamed Gallusgasse and Gallustor.
As Frankfurt grew, the old execution site was redeveloped. The new district was named Gallusviertel. With the opening of Frankfurt’s main train station in 1888, it became an industrial area.
Sankt Gallus parish was founded in the early 20th century. This marked the area as a true Gallus place. The community was poor. Karl Isaak, a Jewish pensioner, donated 750,000 gold marks. This donation enabled the construction of a magnificent church in neo-Byzantine style.
On September 12, 1944, a bomb attack destroyed the church. Only the bell tower remained. The present church was consecrated ten years later.
The Gallus district is known for its multicultural atmosphere. This is reflected in the Sankt Gallus parish. Over half the members do not have German as their first language.
The Frankfurt train station is in the Gallus district. It is one of Germany’s largest and most important stations. Hundreds of thousands of travelers pass through daily.
Gallus extends west to Griesheim. It borders the exhibition center and Rebstockpark to the north. Railway tracks border it to the south. Mainzer Landstraße cuts through the district. It is a major transport and business route.
During World War II, the Adlerwerke factory was a concentration camp. It used slave labor from Natzweiler-Struthof. After the war, the Frankfurt Auschwitz Trials took place here from 1963 to 1965.
Sankt Gallus stands as a testament to Frankfurt’s past. It embodies transformation from a place of death to a vibrant community. It is a place where different cultures come together. The church’s history is woven into the fabric of the Gallus district.