Frankfurt Pealing of the Bells - 28 Nov.
If you are going to be in Frankfurt on or in a town near-by on the 28th, make sure you are down in the city center at the Roemer at 16:30. At this time, 50 bells from 10 of the downtown churches will ring together for 30 minutes. This is 70 tons of metal ringing away, but all in harmony. Frankfurt has been doing this since 1954, and it happens four times a year - Christmas Eve, the 1st Advent Sat, the day before Easter, and Pentecost.
It is fun to be there and walk around to hear the difference in the sound of the bells. The last 2 times, "Gloriosa", the big, almost 12 ton bell at the Kaiserdom was not able to participate as she was getting a new hanger installed. This is the 2nd largest bell in Germany, so she really makes some noise. It will be nice to hear her ring again. She was one of the few bells in Germany to survive the war.
They do this on Christmas Eve too, but at 17:00 and it is traditional to go downtown to hear this.
Jo
Frankfurt, Germany 11/5/09
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Jo, how I wish I could be there to listen to the bells! I lived in Wiesbaden for five years and never knew about this. Thank you for telling us about this. Anna
If you go to this website, you can hear a sample of the bells ringing. It is nothing like being there and listening to it in person, but it gives you a tiny taste.
http://www.frankfurt.de/sixcms/detail.php?id=3828&_ffmpar[_id_inhalt]=54370
The Christmas market opens on the 25th here in Frankfurt too.
Here is the program for the rest of the Frankfurt Christmas Market if any one is interested:
Carillon of Alte Nikolai Church Daily at 9:05, 12:05 & 17:05
The Tower Horns - Balcony of Alte Nikolai Church Wed. and Sat. at 18:00
Visit by Saint Nikolas Sun 6 December, from 17:30 hours, Roemerberg stage
Advent concerts - "International Christmas" Every Fri, Sat, Sun at 17:10, Römerberg stage 27.11. Polizei Choir Frankfurt e.V. 28.11. Korean Choir 29.11. German American Community Choir 04.12. Neeber School Choir 05.12. Die Trenkwalder 06.12. Neeber School Choir 11.12. Christ the King Choir 12.12. Svenskton 13.12. Coro Dello Zecchino 18.12. Herchenröder Quartett 19.12. Rödelheimer Neuner 20.12. Die Trenkwalder
Christmas market featuring various Franfurt artists Paulskirche 27.11. - 22.12.2009, daily 11.00 - 20.00 Uhr Roemerhall 04.12. - 22.12.2009, daily 11.00 - 20.00 Uhr
Advent and Christmas songs 28.11. - 19.12., 19:30 hours, Liebfrauen Church
Advent & Christmas music at Alte Nikolai Sat.& Sun. 17:00-18:00
Take a ride on an historical steam train Sat. 05.12 & 12.12., 13:00 - 17:00, river embankment Eiserner Steg bridge Sun. 06.12. & 13.12., 10:45 - 17:00, river embankment Eiserner Steg bridge
Thank you so much for the info! It will be my first Christmas season in Frankfurt. Sadly, I will miss the bells this time. :-( But the other Christmas events I will definitely seek out.
Frankfurt - Gateway to Europe, 60 Years of Americans in Hessen A really special exhibit has opened at the City Archives this past week. From now until 31 Jan.you can go see the history of the Americans in Frankfurt and the state of Hessen from 1945-2005. This is an amazing exhibit with tons of photos, video recordings from everyday people and soldiers, fascinating films, and lots of memorobilia items.
The exhibit follows the time line of the initial march into Frankfurt by the American Army, the occupation of the IG Farben building as headquarters for Eisenhower, the Berlin Airlift that was based out of Rhine Main Airbase, life of the everyday soldier serving in Hessen, the building of barracks and housing for families, Elvis Presleys stint as a soldier in Friedberg, the visit of JFK to Frankfurt, the riots against America in Viet Nam, and ending with the draw-down and closure of the many bases in Hessen.
I really recommend seeing this piece of history while you have the chance.
Karmeliter Kloster on Munzgasse Open M-F from 10:00-18:00 and S & Sun. from 11:00-18:00 Entrance fee is 4 euro.
While there, you also have the possibility of viewing the Joerg Ratgeb frescos in the Refectory where the exhibit is located and also in the Cloister area. This Medieval artwork is a must-see in Frankfurt. http://www.stadtgeschichte-frankfurt.de
Is there any site online that has past ringings in order for us to hear them?
Would love to be there. It has to be awesome.
The website to hear the bells is on my 2nd post.