Halle's old city centre is among the listed townscapes
in Germany least damaged during the War. The architectural
tone of the whole is set by the to an extent still standing
medieval and early post-
medieval buildings as well as
by the altogether fine houses dating from the turn of the
9th and 20th centuries. Many individual restored listed
buildings as well as interesting new subsequent constructions
- but also the many still delapidated houses - give the
present townscape its particular character. An example giving
rise to hope for the future is Große Märkerstraße,
one of the oldest streets in the city leading off the Marktplatz,
the main square. Already mentioned in 1315 and a favourite
location for commerce and trades during the Middle Ages,
it became famous as a favourite residence of Professors
at the University during the 18th century. Under the East
German regime the often centuries old buildings including
houses with Renaissance portals were ruined by neglect.
Many however have already been restored, an effort made
in such a short space of time that it earned the praise
of the German Foundation for the Protection of Architectural
Heritage (Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz) in 1993 when
Halle was awarded a Gold Medal in competition with 115 other
candidates from all over Germany for the "Preservation
of Historic Townscape".
