Höchst (German pronunciation:[ˈhøːçst])[2] is a neighbourhood and
market town in the Ortsbezirk of Frankfurt-West in
Frankfurt am Main,
Germany. Höchst is situated 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) west of Frankfurt city centre, on the north bank of the
Main at the
confluence with the
River Nidda. Its old town is famous for around 400 timber framed houses.[3][4]
In 1917,
Sindlingen was annexed into Höchst am Main.[5] Höchst was then incorporated into Frankfurt am Main in 1928,[6] at the same time as
Unterliederbach[7] and
Zeilsheim.[8] The well-preserved old city with its 400 half-timbered houses[9] has been under the Denkmalschutz protection law since 1972.[10] 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 weeks. It includes a festival in the old city, fireworks, and a jazz festival in the castle.[11]
History
Middle Ages
Höchst was first recorded as Hostat (meaning high site or high place).[12] On 11 February 1355, Höchst received its town privileges by emperor
Charles IV. In a charter dated 12 January 1356, Charles IV gave additional privileges to Höchst including
the right to hold markets every Tuesday.[13]
In 1586, the first major fire in Höchst occurred. The fire destroyed 56 houses, 25 barns, the
town hall, the
bath house and the Mainz Gate, which was half the town at the time.[15]
20th century
Höchst am Main became part of Frankfurt am Main in 1928.[6] Until 1987, Höchst was the administrative seat of an independent
Landkreis.[16] Höchst is now the center of the
Frankfurt-West Ortsbezirk (administrative district) with 135,000 residents.[17]
Economy
The name Höchst became known throughout the world for the chemical and pharmaceutical corporation
Hoechst AG which was established in 1863.[citation needed] The Hoechst AG was headquartered in Höchst until in 1999, when the company was merged with the French
Rhône-Poulenc S.A. and became
Aventis[18] which, after another merger, became
Sanofi-Aventis. Major research and production activities of the company continue to be conducted in Höchst. The site of the Hoechst works is now operated as the Höchst Industrial Park (Industriepark Höchst). It includes a notable expressionist building designed by
Peter Behrens, the
Technical Administration Building (Technische Verwaltungsgebäude).
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,
ISBN978-3-7983-2042-0 (
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.