Being around for 775 years, Messe Frankfurt has proven a lot with its international success and growing portfolio with 132 (and counting) trade fairs at over 40 locations in five continents, 29 subsidiaries and about 2,300 employees. But how exactly did we get to this point? Where did all begin? Let’s take a look back on some of the important years in Messe Frankfurt’s history.

1150 – The first documented Frankfurt trade fair occurred

1240 – The first highly official Frankfurt Autumn Trade Fair was approved and sealed in a letter by the Emperor Frederick II on July 11.

1330 – The Frankfurt Spring Fair received its privilege from Emperor Louis IV on
April 25. Afterwards, trade fairs were held twice a year – spring and autumn.

1851 and 1855 – The first World Exhibitions in London and Paris heralded the start of the new type of industrial technology exhibition respectively.

1907 – Construction of the Festhalle marked the creation of one of Europe’s largest exhibition halls. It is the cornerstone of Ausstellungs- und Messegesellschaft mbH, the company founded in that is now known as Messe Frankfurt GmbH.

1919 – Import Fair opened on October 1, after World War I was over. With more than 3,000 exhibitors over a total exhibition area of 16,500 square meters, the event was also a commercial success.

1920 – The “Frankfurt principle” saw its first Continue reading Messe Frankfurt: A timeline of its rich history →