Rententurm

Rententurm rises beside the Main in Frankfurt, linking the historic Römerberg with the riverfront harbour. The late Gothic gate tower formed part of the medieval fortifications and stood within the Saalhof complex, whose history reaches back to the twelfth century. Its square base, four storeys, pointed roof, and four small turrets create the distinctive “five-button tower” form.

Eberhard Friedberger built the tower between 1454 and 1456 to protect the Fahrtor and control movement through the city gate. Military defence shared space with customs work, since tolls and harbour fees were collected here. The basement once held a prison vulnerable to flooding from the Main, while the first floor contained the wood-panelled Rentenstube. A large attic hall, created in 1455 by carpenter Henze Monkeler, looked across Frankfurt.

The Bernusbau replaced the river wall beside the tower during the early eighteenth century. Nineteenth-century embankment work reduced its visible height by about three metres, and wartime damage later destroyed the original roof and clockwork. Restoration returned the structure to use, with a new clock installed in 2012 and metal floors opening vertical views through the interior. One of only three surviving Gothic gate towers in Frankfurt, it now belongs to the Historical Museum Frankfurt and preserves exhibitions about Main River life, trade, and the city’s economy.