When you think of Frankfurt, the first thing that comes to mind is the airport and then the imposing skyscrapers that make up Germany’s only real skyline. 19 of the 20 tallest buildings in Germany, including the nearly 300-metre tall Commerzbank Tower, are right here. But it’s not just the Commerzbank which has settled in Frankfurt—the German Federal Bank and stock exchange have also made their homes here, transforming Germany’s 5th largest city into one of the world’s biggest financial hubs. But that’s not all the city can boast about as it is also an important centre for industry, services and trade fairs, a European transport hub, commuter capital and location of the world’s largest internet hub, DE-CIX.

An undervalued metropolis.

Scratch the surface and you’ll discover a completely different, intimate, even green Frankfurt. The city has developed into a much more liveable space, but that has less to do with the facades than what is behind them namely science and culture. It’s hard to keep track of all the research and teaching institutions, museums, opera houses and theatres, the numbers of which cannot be matched by larger cities. From antique sculptures and Goethe’s parents’ house to contemporary art and architectural highlights—all of this and more can be found close to the Museumsufer (Museum Embankment).

It’s not as if you ever have a long way to travel in Frankfurt. While travelling from one side of Berlin will take a good hour on the underground, in Frankfurt all you need is 15 minutes on a bike and the most important sites can all be reached on foot. Then there are the 43 suburbs making up the world’s smallest metropolis which couldn’t be more different from each other if they tried, with parks, Wilhelminian style villas and delis, timber-frame houses, bustling flea markets and cosy pubs jostling for position with designer shops, fine restaurants and high-end boulevards. And if you can’t find anything that takes your fancy, it must mean you aren’t looking hard enough because it really is easy to feel at home here, or as they say in Hesse subbä, which is why Bechtle set down roots here nearly 20 years ago.

Credit: Apfelweinausschank © #visitfrankfurt, Holger Ullmann

A regional and international partner.

Bechtle has had a presence in Germany’s financial centre since 2003 and, since then, Bechtle Frankfurt has developed as quickly as the city itself, achieving revenues of €100 m in 2019. “In a fast-paced city like Frankfurt, reliability and experience play a crucial role. It’s also important to have a finger on the pulse of trends. We are continuously adding new employees to the fold without ever losing sight of our identity or our customers,” says managing director, Christopher Pilz of the system house’s success.

Today, over 130 employees cater for the needs of customers at Commerzbank, Deutsche Bahn AG and others from a wide-range of industries. And since April this year, it has become much easier for these customers to pop by Bechtle Frankfurt: As the old site in the Hanauer Landstraße was bursting at the seams, it was relocated to the brand new suburb, Gateway Gardens. The former American military base couldn’t be better connected with the airport on its doorstep, its own railway station and A5/A3 motorway interchange a stone’s throw away. Now the company has a spacious and highly modern 3,500 m² office, which is perfect for the Modern Workplace, and a nursery located just one floor away rounds off the package. After downing tools for the day, colleagues can enjoy a tense match at Eintracht Frankfurt’s nearby stadium, barbeque on the roof terrace or enjoy a stroll in the woods. The 6,000 hectares of protected landscape are the lungs of the city and a perfect location for Christmas markets and the one-of-a-kind Wäldchestag—Frankfurt’s traditional fair with rides, live music and Ebbelwei (cider). So go ahead. Let the whole world dismiss the city on the Main and believe there’s nothing going on between the high-rises and banks. Frankfurters will simply smile, safe in the knowledge that the opposite is true.

Friendly and modern: The new Bechtle offices in Frankfurt.

QUESTION? ANSWER.

QUICK FACTS:

Christopher Pilz

Managing Director,

Bechtle IT System House Frankfurt

Describe yourself in three words:

Goal-oriented, genuine, down-to-earth.

Your motto:

Everything happens for a reason.

The book on your bedside table:

Was ich an dir liebe. (What I love about you). A book my wife wrote for me. It’s definitely the best in the pile on my bedside table.

One thing nobody knows about you:

I’m a mummy’s boy and am very close to my mother even today.

The super power you’d like to have:

Telekinesis.

Your perfect day:

Lying by the pool with my wife and daughter in Arizona, latte macchiato in hand watching Eintracht Frankfurt win on TV.

Your favourite town and why:

Stockholm. It’s the perfect mix of beauty, joie de vivre, culture and quality of life.

Things you couldn’t live without:

My family, friends and my mobile phone.

Most exciting project:

Travelling once along Route 66 through the heart of the US.

I’d like to swap with this person for a day because:

… Neil Armstrong. Because then I’d be a hero.

Your favourite word:

Respect.

If you cast an eye over your desk, you see...

… a mountain of work.

It’s this job and nothing else because:

It allows me to follow my passion, which is something I’m very grateful for.

MY FRANKFURT.

No matter if you’re on a business trip or city tour, Frankfurt has so much more to offer than just banking and industry. Lisa Timm and her software solutions team share their tips—from where to enjoy a cosy glass of Ebbelwei to the city’s hotspots.

SEE.

Frankfurt’s PalmenGarten is Germany’s largest botanical gardens, with 22 hectares of parkland and 7,000 m² of greenhouses all home to money trees, climbing palms, screw pines, twinleafs and blue neomarica.

Antique sculptures, grand masters, modern art and a fascinating past—you won’t have to search for long to find it all in Frankfurt. The city on the banks of the River Main has many museums, including one that could be considered rather unusual—The DialogMuseum. Here, visitors can wander through darkened rooms to experience what it must be like for the blind. Otherwise, why not visit Germany’s only Money Museum housed in the German Federal Bank.

SAVOUR.

Frankfurt is famous for Handkäs mit Musik (sour milk cheese topped with chopped onions) and Grüne Soße (herb sauce), but have you ever heard of Schneegestöber or Krüstchenschnitzel? Pop in to Zum Rad located in Seckbach and try out some more of Frankfurt’s specialties all washed down with one or two glasses of Ebbelwei of course.

Modern and original is how the urban restaurant and café Werkskantine describes itself, serving up everything from schnitzel with Grüne Soße to pulled pork burgers, all with a view of the former Mayfarth factory and its vintage agricultural machinery.

Looking for something a bit more exotic? Then why not try Im Herzen Afrikas. Beautifully furnished, this restaurant has made a name for itself with its East African cuisine cooked with love.

SLEEP.

Ever spent the night in a skyscraper? The INNSIDE Frankfurt Eurotheum hotel offers apartments and suites with breath-taking views of the city from the 23rd - 29th floors.

Located directly on the River Main, the Gerbermühle offers a unique view of the city skyline. The hotel is a part of the city’s heritage and has 13 rooms and six suites, which have all been beautifully designed. Guests can also relax and enjoy the hotel’s restaurant and beer garden.

SIP.

Small, cosy and in the heart of Frankfurt—if you’re looking for an extensive drinks menu, look no further than the popular barhundert. Our cocktail recommendation: How I Met your Father—a delicious mix of gin, mango and yoghurt liqueur.

Other go-to locations for relaxing drinks are the Sachsenhausen district and Bergerstraße.

SHOP.

Slap bang in the middle of Frankfurt’s main shopping street is the MyZeil shopping centre and its 100 shops. But if you’re looking for even more choice, stop off at the Skyline Plaza, which opened in 2013 with 170 shops in the Europa district.

If you prefer something more traditional, then look no further than the Kleinmarkthalle, where 60 stall holders sell all kinds of fresh produce from around the world. And when you’ve had enough of shopping, you can rest your weary feet in the restaurant, terrace and Gourmet Garden (only Saturdays).

MARVEL.

There are so many ways to discover what Frankfurt has to offer, with the Ebbelwei-Express probably being the most charming! As well as providing excellent views of Frankfurt’s top sights, the one-hour trip also offers plenty of potential for tasting original Possmann cider.

And if you aren’t sure how to spend your evenings, how about visiting Germany’s leading cabaret theatre. The Tigerpalast is an awarding-winning venue showcasing international cabaret and circus artists in due shows every week.

EXERCISE.

Frankfurt’s place to be is close to the city centre, near to the Main Embankment and just a few steps away from the European Central bank. The Hafenpark is where sport lovers of all ages go to let off steam after a busy day in the office. It’s also the starting point of a very special sporting event held between April and October, which sees inline skating fans come together at 8.30 for Tuesday Night Skating.

If it’s a bit too cold outside, then the ice rink is the place to be. Skate where Frankfurt’s ice hockey heroes, the Frankfurter Löwen, ply their trade and where youngsters practice their skills in the off season.

If you prefer soaking up the atmosphere on match day, catching an Eintracht Frankfurt game is a must. The club play in Germany’s top league and its stadium, the Deutsche-Bank-Park located south of the Main, can hold close to 51,500 fans.