Halle is a place that may not spring to mind when thinking about German cities, but only when you visit it the true beauty and cultural value is revealed. Upon arriving in Halle, volunteers are given tours of the city to underline the main attractions of the town and to give an insight into what they can do in their spare time. Halle is referred to as ‘Handelsstadt’, the world-renowned composer was born in Halle and classical music still has a stronghold in this town.

Music and Nature

Continuing with the musical theme of the city, Halle hosts a Beatles museum and many concerts take place within the Peissnitz. Thousands gather in the park to see international musicians and bands perform amongst the nature that the city has to offer.

The Excellence Center hosts weekly social events for the volunteers that take place in the Peissnitz and it proves to be a fantastic place to socialise: there are expansive sections of turf which make group games of volleyball a pleasure and even give the chance for the odd barbecue. The Peissnitz intersects the Altstadt and Neustadt parts of Halle which makes it easy to get to and to walk back from.

Getting around!

Depending on where the volunteers live during their time in Halle, they will either be time in Aldstadt or Neustadt. Neustadt boasts a variety of shopping options and a cinema as well, whereas  the Excellence Centre and the main attractions of Halle are based in the Altstadt. A short tram ride connects the two main areas of Halle and the trams can also be used to access the main train station of Halle.

Public transport in Germany is cheap and efficient, the trams run until late at night and tickets are easily purchased by automated machines on the tram themselves. Take note though, always make sure to have cash to avoid being caught without a ticket, the fine is 60 euros! The buses run regularly in Halle so there is no need to think about spending money on taxis whilst being in Saxony. Walking around in Halle is safe at any hour and no volunteers should worry about their safety whilst being out and about in Halle or Leipzig.

Halle and Leipzig

It’s also important to note the location of Halle: it’s slap bang in the middle of Germany. Some of the volunteers have used their weekends to travel to Berlin and even to Prague. The trains in Germany are well priced if booked in advance and the coach options are fantastic as well. Halle’s proximity to Leipzig proves useful as well, it hosts a Bundesliga football team and range of festivals throughout the year. Although there are lots of travel options, Halle offers more than enough for the volunteers to discover during their free time.

Coming to an end

When the volunteers time is coming to an end in Halle, it would be useful for the volunteers to start thinking about souvenirs to bring back to their homelands. The tourist information in the market square has plenty of Halle related fridge magnets, but the true symbol of Halle resides next door.

Halle’s main export, the Halloren Kugel chocolate, can be found in the shop in the market square and of course all over the town. The chocolate museum has proven to be a favourite with the volunteers and the thought of free samples is nothing short of exciting. Overall, at first Halle may seem small, but exploring the town can prove to be incredibly rewarding for however long or short the stay.