Since the Middle Ages,the former free city of Frankfurt on the river Main,where Europe's trading routes crossed and the German emperors were crowned over a period of more than a hundred years,has developed into one of the most important European financial and trading centres.Today, 368 banks,including the German Central Bank and about 230 foreign banks,and the world's fourth largest stock exchange channel the flow of money from here.At 569,000 Frankfurt has almost as many employees as it has inhabitants (650.000).

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