Although I had several stopovers at Frankfurt airport on my way to other places, I have only visited the city twice. The first time was back in 2015 when I was invited to talk at the International Book Fair of Frankfurt. However, this was a short stay, and I just got a fleeting impression. I revisited Frankfurt in November 2019, and I spent a long weekend there with Barbara and friends. I have heard a lot of things about the Konstablerwache Markt, and I thought of finally visiting it.
The Konstablerwache is one of the biggest and most famous outdoor markets in Germany. It is located in a vast square (Hauptwache) at the center of Frankfurt am Main. A good part of the city center is actually a pedestrian zone, and the market itself lies in the eastern part of Hauptwache. You can reach the square as well as the outdoor market by stopping at the Konstablerwache Station, a major hub of both the U-Bahn (metro) and the S-Bahn (suburban railway) network.
Despite the rainy weather, the mood at the market was really festive that Saturday. The place was full of people drinking beer, eating local delicacies, and strolling around. I had my Ricoh with me (no big news), and at some point, I thought of walking a bit around the Konstablerwache Markt to take some photos. I didn’t want to interrupt the locals, and I tried to be as discreet as possible. After walking around for quite some time, I thought that the light would have been awful and that I wouldn’t have any presentable photos.
But I was wrong. After I returned back to Berlin, I checked the photos, and to my surprise, it turned out that I had some really nice images. Therefore, I thought of creating one more photo report for the blog. To be honest, the Konstablerwache Markt is not only a photogenic place; it’s also one of the best things to see in Frankfurt. So in this post, you will see photos accompanied by some facts about the market. At the very end, you will find some resources for your visit to Frankfurt too.
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At the Konstablerwache Markt in Frankfurt am Main
So, the long German name Konstablerwache translates to Constable Watch-house. It is a reference to an armory established five centuries ago, back in 1544, and it was used for the defense of Frankfurt. Back in the day, the word Konstabler was a military term for people in the artillery. While the urban landscape has changed a lot since then, Hauptwache Square somehow keeps its charm intact. The famous Zeil interconnects the two squares.
As I already wrote, I visited the Konstablerwache Markt on a gloomy Saturday afternoon. This is a farmer’s market (Bauernmarkt in German) where you can buy groceries and enjoy a glass of beer or apple wine. The Konstablerwache Markt is open every Thursday from 10:00 to 20:00 and every Saturday from 8:00 to 17:00. I don’t know how many people visit it on Thursdays (I bet a lot), but on Saturdays, it’s packed. So, in order to give you a better initial impression, this is actually what the market looks like. In the background, you can see the Bienenkorbhaus, built in the 1950s by Johannes Krahn. For the most curious among us, a Bienenkorb translates to a beehive.
Walking around the Konstablerwache market will definitely please your senses. You will find farmers selling everything literally. The stands that you will come across usually look like this.
German outdoor markets are quite often places frequented by lonely people. It is not the rule, but you will often see men and women of all ages enjoying a meal. In southern Europe, this might not usually be the case, but during my years in Germany, I came across such images several times. And I have to say that seeing people enjoying their time without attracting bizarre comments is something that I appreciate a lot.
This is a very personal observation, and it might be totally invalid. Throughout the years, after observing lots of Germans, I concluded that German men above sixty seem to have less lust for words. They seem to turn into good listeners, not always willing to speak. I don’t have any explanation for that, and as I said, I might be wrong. But at the Konstablerwache, I actually run into one such guy, and I thought of taking a photo. He seemed to be listening carefully, but he didn’t really speak. Sometimes, I think that men in Germany, after a certain age, tend to explore more their inner geography and less the landscape surrounding them.
But let’s move further on with the photo report and less with my observations. So, there are several delicacies to choose from, and the food is always tasty. Remember that at the Konstablerwache, you can always have proper food, and it’s not just a market to buy groceries. This is a close-up photo of a local cake, which I can’t still identify what it really is.
You can also have some quick snacks that are usually delicious. This is actually the first photo I took in the market because I was starving when I arrived. It’s called Handkäsbrot, and it’s a slice of bread with local cheese, onions, and tomato.
Quite obviously, you can buy fresh herbs, from dill to parsley, from coriander to fruits. I tried to take a photo using the macro mode of my Ricoh here.
Sometimes I feel that everything is sehr geordnet in Germany, which stands for neatly organized. In one of the stands, I saw several jars full of soups. Each one of them was coming with its own label -carrot soups, tomato soups, etc. It was a big stand, but I tried to shoot a close-up photo too.
Then, and since I had some more time, I started searching for faces. Doing street photography in Germany is not the easiest task because Germans are very concerned. Therefore, doing street photography in Frankfurt was equally challenging. I tried to find some interesting scenes and compositions, and in the next three images, you can see the results. The first one is from a woman probably working in one of the farmer’s stands.
Afterward, while walking further down the Konstablerwache Markt, I spotted a couple. They were good-looking, and I somehow liked their attitude. They were having a good time without caring about the life around them.
Last but not least, I saw a guy that was definitely a character. I initially wanted to take more photos of him, but in the end, I decided to walk away with just two. He was holding both a cigar and pipe in his hands.
Now, after walking around for quite some time, I started feeling hungry again. You see, the smells are really intense, and everything looks delicious at the market. I ordered some Kartoffelpuffer. That’s actually a potato pancake, and I wish I could eat (at least) one every Saturday.
After finishing with the food, I thought of having one last walk because the sunlight was about to disappear. This time though, I focused on abstract compositions and empty spaces. The first photo is from a place selling hot chili soups.
I always have a thing for more blurry photos. Sometimes they create a subtle color palette. Such images are pleasing to the eye; therefore, I include one here.
Last but not least, no visit to a German outdoor market is complete without the occasional sausages. The so-called wurst is probably Germany’s most famous delicacy -together with the pretzel- so here is a photo from a stand selling wurst at Konstablerwache Bauernmarkt.
And here, you can see some of the prices for different delicacies. As you can see, the prices are really moderate.
And that’s actually how an extended stay at the Kontablerwache came to an end.
Practical information for your Konstablerwache visit
I’m adding here some useful information for your visit to the Konstablerwache farmers market. You can use it as a reference if you’d like to visit the market and make the most out of your experience.
- The market is open on Thursdays (10:00-20:00) and Saturdays (08:00-17:00).
- The nearest metro station is Konstablerwache. Almost every Bahn (train) crosses the station. Specifically: eight S-Bahn lines (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S8, S9), four U-Bahn lines (U4, U5, U6, U7), as well as two tram lines (No. 12, No. 18).
- There are also two bus lines (30, 36) stopping there. In general, Frankfurt has an excellent network of public transport.
- Apart from shopping, the area around Konstablerwache is also a great option for finding a place to stay in Frankfurt. There are several hotels nearby. Here’s a short list:
- The Jumeirah Frankfurt. A luxurious option close to the Hauptwache.
- The Hotel Miramar Golden Mile. One more excellent place for your stay in Frankfurt.
- The Expo Hotel Frankfurt. A moderately-priced hotel for your accommodation in Frankfurt.
- The Westin Grand Frankfurt. Close to the Konstablerwache and beautiful too.
- The Apfelwein (apple wine) is also known as Speierling in Frankfurt, and it’s sometimes sourer than the original Apfelwein. Give it a try together with some Kartoffelpuffer
Leaving the Konstablerwache Markt behind
After spending a good part of the afternoon at the market, we took the S-Bahn from the Konstablerwache station and headed towards the river Main for a walk. Walking around Frankfurt during this weekend proved to be enlightening. You see, most of us -myself included- think of Frankfurt as a city dedicated to commerce and business. Frankfurt hosts the European Central Bank (ECB), and its skyline is full of skyscrapers.
But while Frankfurt is indeed a city of commerce, the truth is that it’s so much more than that. There are lots of things to do in Frankfurt, and although I cannot write a proper city guide because my stay was short, I visited several spots. One thing I can say for sure is that I would love to return to Frankfurt for a longer period and explore the city further. The city has some beautiful neighborhoods where local life is unfolding charmingly, and walking by the river is really relaxing
As for the Konstablerwache market, this was definitely a highlight of my visit. Good food, interesting faces, a great atmosphere -what’s more to ask?
Have you ever visited the Konstablerwache Markt or any other outdoor market in Germany? Please let me know in the comments.
More about Frankfurt: Frankfurt layover guide
More photo reports: Ferry Tales, The Glaswegians
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Last Updated on June 24, 2023 by George Pavlopoulos