The Great City Bells of Frankfurt am Main

During the “Great City Bell Ringing,” the bells of ten churches come together to create a harmonious soundscape over downtown Frankfurt and Sachsenhausen. A total of 50 bells ring out in a predetermined musical sequence.

The Citizens’ Bell at St. Paul’s Church kicks off the event. One by one, other churches join in, until the nine bells of the Imperial Cathedral mark the climax of the ringing. Since the concert does not take place at a single location, the sound varies depending on where you are. Around Römerberg, Paulsplatz, and Liebfrauenberg, certain bells can be heard particularly clearly, whereas at the Hauptwache or on the Eiserner Steg, the sound is different. The tradition of this joint bell-ringing dates back to the 19th century and transforms the entire city centre into an open-air concert hall.