Gallus is a district just outside Frankfurt’s city center, with a fascinating and haunting past and a variety of cafés and museums. The spacious plazas and commercial streets adorned with busy bars and boutiques hide a dark history of gallows and the Holocaust. Visit Gallus to learn about the district’s tumultuous past through its various attractions, museums and monuments.

At the heart of the area is the Galluswarte, the iconic watchtower that is one of the few preserved features of the medieval ramparts of the city. Note that it is today part of its namesake train station, which is well connected to the rest of the city.

It is said that the area takes its name from the gallows, which were in use here for public executions. Discover the gloomy side of Frankfurt’s history at the Adlerwerke, a former factory that was used in World War II as a concentration camp. A plaque outside the building commemorates the approximately 1,600 people who died here.

For a change of pace and era, visit the Skyline Plaza, a modern shopping center with an intriguing architectural design showcasing an array of colors. Rest your feet at the spa and check out the lines of shops. Enter the glassy building of the Congress Center Messe Frankfurt, which is the venue for various trade fairs.

Dividing up the Gallus area are several shopping avenues. Browse the upscale boutiques and designer stores of Goethestraße and visit the quaint cafés and affordable shops of Berger Straße .

Gallus is on the northern side of the Main River on the western side of the city center. Drive from central Frankfurt in about 10 minutes or travel by S-Bahn in even less time.

From Gallus, cross the river to explore the areas of Niederrad, Sachsenhausen and Lerchesberg.