What is the Stadel and where is it

Asks doukie

A. The St�del is one of Europe's most important art galleries, and it is in Frankfurt, Germany. It is the home of many major works of art, especially from Germany and features work by Cranach, Altdorfer, D�rer, Gr�newald, Tischbein and Elsheimer (who was actually from Frankfurt). Away from home it features some major international work by Monet, Rembrandt, Degas, Botticelli and Rubens.

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Q. I thought Frankfurt was Germany's financial heartland, not its cultural one

A. It is true that Frankfurt is the financial capital of Germany (based in the city's West End district) it is home to the Bundesbank, the European Central Bank and 400 other banking institutions; but it also has a strong cultural hold on the country with many galleries, theatres and museums to boast of. It is well known for its annual Book Fair.

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Q. What else does Frankfurt have to offer

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There is a lot to see here, so if you have time try to fit in some of the following:

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Sachsenhausen: is the main place to hang out in the evenings. It is situated on the south bank of the river and is the best place for restaurants, bars and cafes - many bars will sell Ebbelwei -apple wine - a local, if somewhat lethal, delicacy�- very similar to cider. Most of the city's museums are also located here.

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Bockenheim: is another great hang-out area, originally very working class it is now seen as the alternative centre of the city and is full of bars, cafes, clubs and student accommodation.

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Borse: Frankfurt's stock exchange

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Deutsches Filmmuseum: is the best film museum in Germany, and some would argue the whole of Europe. It houses its own cinema.

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Museum f�r V�lkerkunde: ethnographical museum with an impressive collection of totem poles.

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MAK (Museum f�r Kunsthandwerk): is a fantastic, and huge, arts and crafts museum in the centre of the city that features many international pieces - it is known for its ceramics, sculpture, glassware and precious stones.

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Schirn Kunsthalle: is the city's main arts centre and is known locally as the Federal Bowling Alley�- it often hosts international art exhibitions.

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Goethehaus: formerly the home of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, it houses a small museum devoted to the writer.

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Dom or St Bartholom�us: this cathedral dates back to the early 13th Century is one of the only surviving older buildings in the city - most of the others were destroyed during the war.

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Historisches Museum: is another older building, this time its chapel dates back to the 12th Century - and offers a good insight into pre-war Frankfurt and how it looked.

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Alte Oper: is Frankfurt's old Opera House, which was totally rebuilt after WW2 based on its original fa�ade.

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Liebfrauenkirche: this old church dates back to the 15th Century and is well known for its massive altar.

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The R�mer: originally dating back to 1562, the former town hall (also the coronation site for many German emperors) was rebuilt after WW2.

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Q. When is the best time to visit Frankfurt

A. Spring and autumn are the best weather-wise but also the most crowded as this is when most of the international conferences and trade fairs take place. Some of the best include the International Jazz Festival in March and the Dippemass in May when a huge carnival comes to town.

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Q. Is it easy to reach Frankfurt from the UK

A. Yes, amazingly easy as it has the busiest airport in Europe, with excellent long-distance bus and train services too.

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By Karen Anderson