Halle - Marktkirche Unserer Lieben Frau

In the "Chronicon Moissiacense" 806 the place Halle is mentioned for the first time as "Halla". In 968, Otto I founded the Archdiocese of Magdeburg, to which Halle belonged until 1680. Around 1120 the city was extensively expanded. This was possible due to the increasing salt trade and the wealth associated with it. Initially, this was managed by archbishops. From the end of the 12th century the Guild of the Panners (salt makers) was formed. This gave rise to a self-confident bourgeoisie, which concluded a contract with Archbishop Rupert of Magdeburg in 1263, according to which the archbishop was not permitted to build any castles within a mile radius. The Panners determined the politics of the city for centuries. Halle was first mentioned in a document in 1281 as a member of the Hanseatic League, and in 1310 the city's self-government was contractually recorded. In 1341 the construction of a strong tower between the scales and the town hall began, which was used until 1835 to securely accommodate the city's privileges.

In 1478 ended the approximately 200-year city independence. In 1484, Archbishop Ernst II (1464–1513) had Moritzburg Castle built as a fortified residential palace in the north-west corner of the city and ceremoniously moved into it in 1503. It was actually supposed to be a stronghold against Halle's self-confident citizens, the salt workers. Until 1680, Halle was the capital and residence of the Archdiocese of Magdeburg.
The market church was built between 1529 and 1554 on the site of two previous churches St. Gertrud and St. Maria. The church of St. Gertrud in the west dates from the 11th century and was the church of the salt makers, the Marienkirche in the east dates from the 12th century and was the parish church of merchants and craftsmen. Only the four towers of these churches survived. In between, the new church was erected and in 1537 (still unfinished) consecrated. Justus Jonas, who officially introduced the Reformation in Halle in 1541, preached from this pulpit. Luther himself preached three times in the Marktkirche in 1545 and 1546.

The church was badly damaged in the air raid in March 1945. Part of the vault collapsed. Artillery shelling in 1945 broke out the tracery window on the west front. The restoration work lasted until 1948. A necessary general renovation took place after 1967 when the interior and the furnishings were severely damaged by a burst district heating pipe. It was decided to restore the appearance of the 16th century as much as possible.

The wooden winged altar from 1529 was commissioned by Bishop Albrecht of Brandenburg and designed by Lucas Cranach the Elder. Cranach's student Simon Franck created it. It has four moveable wings and two fixed wings. The predella below shows the Fourteen Holy Helpers, seven each to the left and seven to the right of Mary.

The organ above was built by organ builder Georg Reichel in 1663-1664. The young Georg Friedrich Handel learned to play the organ on this organ.