Staufenmauer, Medieval city wall remains in Frankfurt, Germany

The Staufenmauer is the surviving remnant of Frankfurt's first stone city wall, built around 1180 under Hohenstaufen rule. The preserved stretch runs along the Fahrgasse and consists of a row of blind arches, about 36 Schuh high, rebuilt after the 1711 Jewish ghetto fire. A second fragment stands at the west side of the Liebfrauenkirche, whose tower was originally a wall tower.

Construction began in 1180 under Hohenstaufen rule as Frankfurt's first stone fortification to protect the growing settlement. The wall marked a turning point in the city's development into a fortified urban center.

The name refers to the Hohenstaufen dynasty that commissioned its construction. Visitors can still see the thick stone walls and defense walkways that reveal how Frankfurt protected itself during medieval times.

The surviving stretch runs along the east side of the Fahrgasse, with a further remnant at the west side of the Liebfrauenkirche, whose tower was originally part of the wall. The section by the Fahrgasse is a short walk north of the Konstablerwache transport hub. Look for the row of blind arches, exposed after the 1944 air raids.

The original structure included three main gates - Guldenpforte, Bockenheimer Pforte, and Bornheimer Pforte - that controlled passage between old and new town sections. These gates were central to managing commerce and movement through the expanding city.