Höchst (Frankfurt am Main)

Infobox Frankfurt Stadtteil
name = Höchst


image_district = Mk Frankfurt Karte Höchst.png area = 4.709
population = 13,505 (Dec. 2006)
density = 2,867
postal_code = 65929
areacode = 069
ortsbezirknumber=6
ortsbezirk=West
stadtbezirk=
*570 - Höchst-West
*580 - Höchst-Ost
*591 - Höchst-Süd
*592 - Höchst-Süd (Industriepark Höchst)
website=http://www.frankfurt.de/sixcms/detail.php?id=92389

Höchst (German: IPA|høːkst / IPA|høːçst) is a district of Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Höchst am Main became part of Frankfurt am Main in 1928 together with its boroughs Sindlingen, Unterliederbach and Zeilsheim. It is situated 10 km west of downtown Frankfurt on the north bank of the Main river at the Nidda River estuary.

In contrast to most other "Stadtteile", Höchst is an old historical city (with town privileges since 1355) and is still the most important subcenter in the western part of Frankfurt. Until 1987 Höchst was the administration seat of an independent Landkreis. Höchst is now the center of the administrational district Frankfurt-West with 120,000 residents.

The name Höchst became well-known throughout the world for the chemical and pharmaceutical corporation Hoechst AG which was established in 1863. With a short interruption (1925−1952) the Hoechst AG has been headquartered in Höchst. In 1999 the company was merged with the French Rhône-Poulenc S.A. and became Aventis and subsequently after another merger Sanofi-Aventis. There are still major research and production activities of the company in Höchst.

The well-preserved old city has been under the "Denkmalschutz" protection law since 1972. In the middle-age city part, most of the timber framed house stem from the period after the major fire in 1586.

An important cultural event is the folklore festival, the "Höchster Schloßfest", that brings many visitors to Höchst. It begins in the middle of June and last four week. It includes a festival in the old city, fireworks, and a jazz festival in the castle.

History

Middle Ages

Höchst is first mentioned in 790 as Hostat (meaning high site or high place). The name has nothing to do with the Hostato Saga regarding the Knight Hostato, who after being the only one to survive a battle was given the site by Charlemagne in thanks for his bravery. On February 11, 1355 Höchst received its town privileges by emperor Charles IV. In a charter from January 12, 1356 Charles IV gave additional privileges to Höchst including the right to hold markets every Tuesday.

Further reading

* Wilhelm Frischholz: "Alt-Höchst. Ein Heimatbuch in Wort und Bild." Frankfurt am Main 1926: Hauser.
* Markus Grossbach: "Frankfurt-Höchst. Geschichte 1860–1960. Bildband." Erfurt 2001: Sutton.
* Wilhelm Grossbach: "Alt Höchst auf den zweiten Blick. Impressionen aus einer alten Stadt." Frankfurt-Höchst 1980: Höchster Verlagsgesellschaft.
* Wilhelm Grossbach: "Höchst am Main". Gestern, heute, morgen." Frankfurt am Main 2006: Frankfurter Sparkasse.
* Michael König: "Die Krise großstädtischer Subzentren. Bedeutungsverlust gewachsener Nebenzentren mit eigener städtischer Tradition. Gründe, Situation und mögliche Auswege am Beispiel von Frankfurt-Höchst". (= ISR Graue Reihe; Bd. 3). Institut für Stadt- und Regionalplanung Berlin 2007: TU Berlin, ISBN 978-3-7983-2042-0 ( [http://opus.kobv.de/tuberlin/volltexte/2007/1621/ online] )
* Franz Lerner: "Frankfurt am Main und seine Wirtschaft: Wiederaufbau seit 1945." Frankfurt am Main 1958: Ammelburg.
* Wolfgang Metternich: "Die städtebauliche Entwicklung von Höchst am Main." Frankfurt-Höchst 1990: Stadt Frankfurt und Verein für Geschichte und Altertumskunde.
* Günter Moos: "Rundgang durch das alte Frankfurt-Höchst." Gudensberg-Gleichen 2001: Wartberg.
* Rudolf Schäfer: "Höchst am Main." Frankfurt am Main 1981: Frankfurter Sparkasse von 1822.
* Rudolf Schäfer: "Chronik von Höchst am Main." Frankfurt am Main 1986: Waldemar Kramer.

External links

* [http://www.frankfurt.de/sixcms/detail.php?id=92389 Official web site Frankfurt Höchst (German)]
* [http://www.hoechst-am-main.de/ Private web site Frankfurt Höchst (German)]
* [http://altfrankfurt.com/Stadtteil/Hoechst/ Höchst on internet project 'Alt Frankfurt' (English/German)]
* [http://www.frankfurt360.de/hoechst.htm 360° views from Höchst]