Frankfurt, College town in Brandenburg, Germany
Frankfurt (Oder) sits on the western bank of the Oder River and forms a cross-border city pair with Polish Słubice on the opposite shore. The old town gathers around the brick St. Mary's Church, while residential districts from different centuries stretch toward the riverbank and are threaded with tree-lined avenues and green spaces.
The settlement received town rights in 1253 and joined the Hanseatic League in 1430, becoming a major trading center in the region. After World War II it lost its eastern districts beyond the Oder, which became the Polish town of Słubice.
The name comes from an old river crossing that carried travelers and merchants over the Oder during medieval times. Polish and German residents shape the atmosphere together today, especially in shops and cafés near the border bridge, where both languages mix freely in daily conversation.
The main railway station offers connections to Berlin and Polish cities, while trams and buses run throughout the city. The pedestrian bridge over the Oder remains open at all times and allows direct passage to Słubice without border checks or waiting periods.
The Viadrina University was first founded in 1506 and attracted students from across Europe before closing in 1811. Its reopening in 1991 resumed the academic tradition after a 180-year gap and made it a symbol of German-Polish cooperation.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
