Seven „Kulturhäuptlinge“ (cultural chiefs) are trademarks of the “Handel City” Halle. They crown the birthplace of George Frideric Handel’s cultural stronghold with charm, art, and design.

Halle (Saale) is centrally located in Middle Germany, in the vicinity of Leipzig-Halle airport. The more than 1,200-year-old historical town boasts restored town houses, historic places of worship, parks, colourful pub districts, and many picturesque spots along the Saale. Around 240,000 inhabitants live in Halle, the greenest city in Germany, two-thirds of which are taken up by parks and green spaces.

Four thalers and 16 groats – with this asset the Lutheran theologian August Hermann Francke started his visionary enterprise 300 years ago and founded an orphanage and a school. Today, the so-called Francke Foundations Halle is a lively educational cosmos with museums, schools, university and research institutes, kindergarten, and residence for senior citizens. Impressive is the architecture of the longest half-timbered ensemble in Europe with the historical orphanage and an early modern scenery library. In the former dormitory of the orphan boys one of the few completely preserved Baroque cabinets of curiosities in Europe can be admired.

With the renowned College of Art and Design Burg Giebichenstein and the Moritzburg Foundation Museum of Art both the oldest and youngest castles on the Saale can be found in Halle. In addition, the city of Handel is the seat of the traditional, more than 500-year-old Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, the Federal Cultural Foundation, and the Leopoldina – the National Academy of Sciences.