Köthen, District capital in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
Köthen is a district capital in Anhalt-Bitterfeld, Saxony-Anhalt, situated around 30 kilometers north of Halle. The town sits on flat terrain with fertile black soil at about 80 meters elevation and includes several incorporated villages in the surrounding countryside.
The settlement received market town rights in 1194 and developed into an important trading center. From 1603 to 1847 it served as the residence of the Principality of Anhalt-Köthen and housed the princely court with its cultural institutions.
Johann Sebastian Bach composed numerous musical works while serving as Kapellmeister for Prince Leopold von Anhalt-Köthen between 1717 and 1723.
The town hosts the main campus of Anhalt University of Applied Sciences and sits on major railway lines connecting Magdeburg, Leipzig, and Dessau. The historic town center is easy to explore on foot, while the surrounding villages can be reached by local transport or car.
Samuel Hahnemann practiced medicine here from 1821 to 1834 and developed the foundations of homeopathy during his stay. Johann Sebastian Bach composed numerous works between 1717 and 1723 while serving as Kapellmeister for Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen.
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