Halberstadt, Medieval trading center in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
Halberstadt is a city in Harz District, Saxony-Anhalt, sitting at the northern edge of the Harz range and preserving over 450 timber-framed houses from different eras. Three large church buildings from the 12th century shape the townscape and connect with the narrow lanes of the old quarter.
In 814, Louis the Pious founded a bishopric here that turned the settlement into the spiritual center of the region. By the 13th century, the place had grown into an important trading post that joined the Hanseatic League.
The cathedral houses precious tapestries and reliquaries from medieval times, showing how church life unfolded centuries ago. Visitors can hear the sound of a historic organ that ranks among the oldest of its kind in Europe.
The railway station connects the city with several regional routes and serves as a starting point for tours into the Harz or to neighboring towns. Trams and buses cover the urban area and provide access to the main sights.
Since 2001, a performance of an organ work by John Cage has been running in Burchardi Church and will not end until 2640. The sound changes only a few times each year, so visitors often hear a single sustained harmony.
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