The Paulskirche (St. Paul's Church), originally conceived as a gallery building, is thought of as the “cradle of German democracy” and one of the most powerful symbols of freedom and democracy in Germany. In the years 1848/49 it was used as a seat of the Deutsche Nationalversammlung (German National Assembly), After women received the right to vote in 1918, the first assembly of women took place in the Paulskirche.

Yet it's only been since 1948 that the Paulskirche has not been a church, any more, but is only used for exhibits as well as for federal or municipal events. The most famous event to take place here regularly is the award of the “Friedenspreis des Deutschen Buchhandels” (the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade), which is presented at the Frankfurt Book Fair.  The first peace prize winner in 1950 was the German writer Max Tau.