The Luther Connection

Halle (Saale) witnessed Luther preach and is now home to one of most remarkable of all relics –Martin Luther’s death mask.

The Market Church (Marktkirche)

In the 16th century, two churches were joined to create the four-spired church that stands today. A small room inside the church holds Luther’s death mask, an original cast of Luther's face and hands. Years after his death, the cast was altered to disguise the effect a stroke had on Luther‘s eyelid. His right hand’s gnarled fingers are the result of rheumatism, and he also suffered terrible pain from kidney stones, which were incurable at the time.

The city

This busy city dates back to 806, but the salt that provided it with wealth was discovered centuries earlier.

George Frederic Handel
Handel was born in Halle (Saale) in 1685; his birthplace is now a museum, the Handel-Haus. This famous composer was not only baptized in the Church of Our Lady ('Liebfrauenkirche'), but also played the Reichel organ that is still in use today.

The Francke Foundations
The Francke Foundations are a social and educational charity founded in 1698. They were responsible for sending Henry Melchior Muhlenberg to Pennsylvania, where he founded the first Lutheran Church in America. The Francke Foundations' library and unusual Cabinet of Artefacts and Natural Curiosities are open to the public.

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