formally the church of the Dominican friary founded here in 1271. No doubt thanks to their acoustic expertise, the church still offers remarkably good sound conditions and is a favourite setting for concert and theatre performances. The long nave, somewhat higher than its narrow side aisles is among the oldest hall churches in the Mitteldeutschland region. At the time of the Reformation it was remodelled in Renaissance style. From 1520 the church was where Cardinal Albrecht kept his extensive collection of art and reliquaries. Of the interior adornments only the cycle of 17 statues on the columns along with the pulpit and parts of the choir stalls remain. In the opinion of certain historians the description of the church as "Dom" goes back to the dedicatory plaque of 1523 attributed to the sculptor Schro from Mainz. As from 1692 the building was exclusively used as parish church by the Calvinist community, who still worship here. Non other than George Frideric Handel was organist here in 1702 - 1703. Major renovation of the interior was carried out in the 1950s. The structure of the Domkirche has been preserved as a result of extensive repairs undertaken in 1991. The responsibility for maintenance lies with the foundation by which it is owned, the Domstiftung des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt.