Saalhof Castle (Frankfurt)

The Saalhof was likely built in the 12th century under the Staufer ruler Konrad III as an imperial castle. It replaced the Carolingian royal palace on the cathedral hill and served as the seat of the royal commander and administrator of imperial property. By the end of the 13th century, the complex lost its status as an imperial castle and came into the possession of the royal nobility as collateral. From 1333, it was owned by the Frankfurt patrician Jakob Knoblauch, but retained the status of an imperial fief until the late 17th century. The Saalhof underwent numerous alterations, including the Rententurm (1454–1456), the Baroque Bernusbau (1715–1717), and the Burnitzbau (1840–1842), built in Italian Romanesque style. After its destruction by air raids in 1944, the buildings facing the Main river were reconstructed. In the early 1970s, a new building for the Historical Museum was erected on the adjacent grounds.

Saalhof Castle is located in Frankfurt am Main, in the state of Hesse, Germany, at an elevation of approximately 111 m above sea level.

Today, the Saalhof serves as a museum and is accessible to visitors.