The Alte Nikolaikirche on the Römerberg is one of Frankfurt's oldest churches, dating back to 1290, when it replaced an earlier Court Chapel on the site. Rebuilt in an early gothic style, it became the church of the city council in the 15th century. It is famous for its carillon of 35 bells, which sound daily at 9.05, 12.05 and 17.05h. Watchmen were posted in the tower to look out for potential fires in the city's narrow streets, as well as to signal ships as they travelled along the river. Its design, with an impressive high sloping roof, was deliberately intended to match the roofscape of the surrounding buildings the internal vaults are rather more modest in scale.
Although badly damaged by Allied bombing in 1944, the interior has been faithfully rebuilt, and contains the impressive and well preserved memorial wall plaques to Siegfried zum Paradeis (d. 1386) and his second wife Katherina zum Wedel, (d. 1378). He is shown praying piously to a crucified Christ, attended by angels, while she is more modestly depicted in contemplation, decked out in her best 14th-century finery. read more