Halle

Halle (Saale) is a city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It lies on the Saale River in the central part of the country, about 40 kilometers southwest of Leipzig. With a population of around 240,000, Halle serves as an educational, cultural and administrative center for the region and hosts one of Germany's oldest universities.

Halle has medieval origins and developed as a trading center along the Saale. The University of Halle was established in 1694 and became a major institution of higher learning. In 1817 it merged with the University of Wittenberg to form the Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg. The city is the birthplace of the composer Georg Friedrich Handel, born in 1685, and his legacy is celebrated in the Handel House museum.

Culturally, Halle preserves a historic town center with churches, museums and a busy market square. The Handel House museum preserves Handel's birthplace and early life, while the Francke Foundations—dating to the late 17th century—highlight the city’s long tradition of education, philanthropy and social reform.

Today Halle is a center for higher education and research, with the university and several institutes contributing to science, humanities and medicine. The city also hosts cultural events and festivals related to its musical heritage. It is served by Halle (Saale) Hauptbahnhof and has regional transport connections to other German cities.