Welcome to the realm of knowledge in the Baroque era: Stepping onto creaking floorboards into the quiet grandeur of our historical library hall, one is immediately enveloped by the collective knowledge of the Early Modern period. Like stage sets in a Baroque theater, the original bookshelves jut into the space, housing around 50,000 books from all fields of knowledge. Behind unassuming book spines lie remarkable treasures, such as the first German Bible printed in America.

At the end of the 17th century, the orphanage's library was established as one of the first public libraries in Germany. Primarily through donations, book exchanges, and their own publications, the library grew so rapidly that within a few years, it was comparable to significant German university libraries. In 1728, it received its own building, which is considered the oldest surviving secular library structure in Germany. Not only in recent times has the library been visited by guests and researchers from around the world: Albrecht von Haller, Johann Joachim Winckelmann, and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe all admired its bibliophilic treasures. We present a selection of them for you in rotating cabinet exhibitions in the former reading room of the library.

10 am - 5 pm

Palace-like, the orphanage rises on Franckeplatz. Then as now, it is the centerpiece of the Francke Foundations. Erected in 1698 as the first building of the school city, it represents a new facet of European Baroque, combining confident representation without extravagant ornamentation and setting the tone for orphanage architecture.

Today, the orphanage is our museum and cultural center. Right from the start, two permanent exhibitions guide you through the history of the foundation and the global impact of Pietism. On the first floor, the former prayer and singing hall surprises with its bright architecture. Today, it enjoys an excellent reputation as a concert hall due to its fantastic acoustics. In the adjacent conference rooms, a photo exhibition showcases the impressive renovation work since the foundations were reestablished in 1991. The second floor is reserved for our changing special exhibitions, which provide insight into important themes of the foundation's history from both a historical and contemporary perspective. Passing through the art and natural history collections in the attic, you reach the balcony via a narrow wooden staircase. Here, a wide view opens up over the impressive ensemble with school buildings from three centuries. There is also a splendid panorama of the Old Town of Halle from here. In the basement, children can explore their own paths in the Krokoseum.

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

What power does the word have? For Halleschen Pietismus, the word was of central importance. On the ground floor of the Historical Orphanage, we show you how August Hermann Francke's reform movement could spread around the world.

Francke developed central reformative goals of Martin Luther's with Halleschen Pietismus. His approach was as clear as it was revolutionary: Every person should find God through their own Bible reading. However, for this to happen, everyone - boys and girls alike - had to learn to read, everyone should be able to afford their own Bible and it should be printed in their own native language. Therefore, Francke established schools for all social classes, printed millions of German-language People's Bibles, and created an international network through which the Bible was translated into many other languages. His educational initiative allowed a broad population to engage with the word. In the 18th-century evangelical parsonages, the authors of the Romantic and Enlightenment periods were highly regarded. A culture of self-reflection spread in Pietism, which was reflected in diaries and personal testimonies, giving us remarkable insights into the spiritual life of people of that time. Symbolically, the power of the word is also evident in the meticulously restored pulpit from the Church of St. Ulrich in Halle, where Francke preached from 1715 and which you can admire in the exhibition.

10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Playing, laughing, being loud, romping, doing nothing – and that in an exhibition house! From September 4, 2024, BAUBAU invites exactly that. In the play space for children designed by artist Kerstin Brätsch, more is allowed than forbidden. Colorful wallpapers, structures, objects, and a range of “Loose Parts” form spaces on the ground floor of the Gropius Bau that do not impose fixed guidelines but are determined by the activities of the children. They dictate the direction and form of what happens here. Thus, this place becomes a space of possibilities that can change day by day.

BAUBAU will launch in September 2024 in a prototype version and will continue to develop and grow over the coming years both inside and outside the Gropius Bau – in close exchange with the children and their wishes, as this is their place.

The Play
All children have the urge to play. This is how they learn to understand themselves and the world. Especially open, self-determined play is of great significance for emotional and social development. The educational concept for BAUBAU is therefore based on the principles of free play: Here, there is time, space, and permission for children to follow their own needs and interests. They are accompanied by playworkers – trained staff who create a safe and supportive environment where children can play freely.

 
The Art
BAUBAU playfully questions what a museum or an art institution should be. The comprehensive spatial design developed by Kerstin Brätsch is full of references and inspirations: elements from her previous works, such as marbling, paintings, or stucco marble work, reappear here in altered forms and materialities. The wallpapers, curtains, fabrics, seating furniture, and climbing structures are inhabited by dinosaurs, fantastical beings, termite mounds, and abstract elements. With their strange, funny, and perhaps a bit eerie shapes, they create an open framework for free play.

Kerstin Brätsch's practice is designed to allow and incorporate influences from outside. While she has previously collaborated with artists or artisans, she now does so in a completely different way with children: She invites the children to reshape and further develop the space according to their own ideas and visions, without the influence of the artist in unpredictable ways.

Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri 12:00–18:00
Sat, Sun 11:00–18:00
Tue closed

Max Barskih is going on a big tour through the USA, Canada, and Europe:

“This journey is to you!”

This autumn, Max Barskih opens a new musical chapter – profound, honest, and personal. The tour, which encompasses dozens of cities in the USA, Canada, the UK, and Europe, is more than just a concert series. It is an invitation to a journey – to oneself, to the music, to shared emotions. “Let’s open up, feel the vibe, and lose ourselves in the music! This journey is not about cities or countries. This journey is to you!” – says Max Barskih. The new program will feature popular hits that have already become the soundtrack for many fans, as well as new songs that have waited for their moment for years.

“The thought that I can soon present them live to you and experience your reactions inspires me a lot,” says the artist.

Doors open: 7:00 PM

HANSI HINTERSEER

Schön dass es Dich gibt - Best of Tour 2025

Sun. 9.11.2025, 17:00, Meistersingerhalle, Nuremberg

Hansi Hinterseer has been a celebrated folk music star for over 30 years with hits like “Hände zum Himmel,” “Amore Mio,” “Ich hab dich einfach lieb,” and "Hey Baby." On Sunday, November 9, 2025, at 17:00, Hansi Hinterseer will make the hearts of his fans beat faster in Nuremberg. The popular schlager star will perform a “Best of Concert” at the Meistersingerhalle. Throughout his impressive career, Hansi Hinterseer has released numerous albums featuring folk songs and danceable schlager, many of which have been awarded gold and platinum. His concerts are always an emotional highlight. With his authentic manner and passion for music, the charming Tyrolean captivates his audience. His career began over 50 years ago in ski racing and took off immensely. In 1973, at just 18 years old, he reached the pinnacle of the world with the overall World Cup victory in giant slalom. In 1974, he achieved a spectacular home victory in slalom as the first Austrian at the World Cup race in Kitzbühel, and just a week later, he won silver in the World Cup giant slalom. Six World Cup victories in slalom, 9 second places, and 7 third places in the slalom World Cup, as well as two professional world championship titles in downhill, round out his athletic record. "These are memories that are beautiful. One likes to look back, but life is now! Now you have to live, look forward."
With this positive attitude, Hansi Hinterseer entered the recording studio 30 years ago for his first single, which allowed him to embark on his second career as a singer. Dozens of albums and many accolades later, the 70-year-old is still right up front. He also enjoys cult status among young people. And surely not only because of his fur boots, which are inextricably linked to his name: The folk schlager has a great tradition in the Tyrolean mountains.
He presented his new album "Schön, dass es dich gibt" with the title track single, followed by the impressive film documentary “Hansi Hinterseer - Willkommen in meinem Leben.” After his milestone birthday, he celebrated quietly, with gentle plans, only to then make it all happen with concerts and open airs once again. “Schön, dass es dich gibt,” Hansi!

Doors open at 16:00, concert starts at 17:00.

Copyright: Max Priest

Doors open: 16:00

Ten Years of Meissen Porcelain Foundation
Exhibition at the Museum of the Meissen Porcelain Foundation, March 21, 2025 to February 22, 2026

Collecting fascinates. The Meissen Porcelain Foundation was founded at the end of 2014, and it began its work in 2015. It preserves the cultural heritage of Meissen porcelain. One of the foundation's tasks is the care of the historical collection of the Meissen porcelain manufactory.

Manufacturer founder Augustus the Strong referred to his passion for porcelain as “Maladie.” This literally means “disease,” but stands for his boundless longing for the precious white gold. This fascination is shared to this day by generations of collectors – and artists. Their porcelains showcase the invention, production, and collection of the white treasures. Porcelain craftsmen provide insight into their art. Happy collectors cherish their treasures. Artists play with the term porcelain and transform centuries-old tools into contemporary porcelain art.

The exhibition provides insight into the work of the foundation and showcases Meissen porcelains around the theme of collecting.

“Der Bücherschatz” is a clownesque theater piece about the fascination with books, the love for reading, and the humorous encounter between two generations. Grandma and her granddaughter Glucks find a mysterious book in which they astonishingly become the protagonists. They are sent on a journey around the world and beyond – in search of a treasure. They transform into real heroines. And the adventure begins!

Target audience: Children between 4 and 10 years old (kindergarten and primary school as well as special needs school).

Cast and text: Kirstie Handel and Judith Gorgass
Direction: This Zogg

Ticket price includes 0% VAT. Note: From mid-2026, only card payment will be accepted at the abraxas Theater!

For children aged 3 – 8 and adults
“meins wird deins” is a musical theater piece that explores the theme of sharing in various facets. Because sharing is not only about things, but also about ideas, experiences, and perspectives. And when you do, you can also feel that sharing can be more than just a sacrifice. Perhaps even a great gain.

In “meins wird deins,” a musician shares her sounds with us, a player shares her feelings, and a performer shares his view of the world. By sharing time, space, and experiences with our audience, a delicate, fulfilling, and completely shared togetherness arises. With little language, but much sound, movement, and imagery, spaces for imagination are opened.

With “meins wird deins,” we set a sign in a world that is always about having more and being better, and we invite others to engage with us as well as openly invite others to engage with us and courageously take the other perspective, the other idea, the other place. And suddenly, the world becomes big and wide, and togetherness becomes exciting and beautiful.

„Fly with me! Fly with me!“, calls Albi, the Alpine swift, who nests under the roof of the Linden Museum during the summer months. On your flight through the permanent exhibitions, you will encounter the transparent kangaroo, hear about an extinct bird, and can listen to the conversation with Seraa, the elephant. Whether in pictures or clothing, made from wood, ceramics, and stone – the animals and their representations tell of the coexistence of humans and animals. This relationship is not always straightforward. On one hand, many animals are admired, revered, and appreciated as companions or domestic and farm animals, while on the other hand, their habitats are also destroyed and they are hunted or displaced.

In the exhibition, illustrator Promina Shrestha brings the animals on the objects to life through her images. During the listening and stamping rally, you will discover together with Albi what the animals have to say, solve puzzles, and collect stamps.

€ 4/3 including permanent exhibitions
Children up to 18 years free

Tue to Sat 10 AM - 5 PM / Sun and holidays 10 AM - 6 PM / Closed on Dec 24, 25, and 31

Dive into the “Anatomy of Happiness”

Human happiness is closely related to the body. How closely is revealed by the KÖRPERWELTEN permanent exhibition in Heidelberg. Here, the anatomist Gunther von Hagens developed the method of plastination at the University of Heidelberg, a groundbreaking technique for preserving bodies.

Today, KÖRPERWELTEN is one of the most popular exhibitions in the world. Curious people around the globe explore the mysteries of human existence. But it is not just the anatomy of the body that is central – rather, it is about raising awareness and understanding the significance of the body in relation to one's own happiness. The exhibited plastinates create a new awareness for a responsible approach to one's own body and a healthy lifestyle. What moves us? What drives us? And how does happiness actually work? All these questions and many more are answered in the “Anatomy of Happiness” and just as many are raised anew. The human body never ceases to amaze and inspire us.

Last admission: 5:00 PM

Welcome to the realm of knowledge in the Baroque era: Stepping onto creaking floorboards into the quiet grandeur of our historical library hall, one is immediately enveloped by the collective knowledge of the Early Modern period. Like stage sets in a Baroque theater, the original bookshelves jut into the space, housing around 50,000 books from all fields of knowledge. Behind unassuming book spines lie remarkable treasures, such as the first German Bible printed in America.

At the end of the 17th century, the orphanage's library was established as one of the first public libraries in Germany. Primarily through donations, book exchanges, and their own publications, the library grew so rapidly that within a few years, it was comparable to significant German university libraries. In 1728, it received its own building, which is considered the oldest surviving secular library structure in Germany. Not only in recent times has the library been visited by guests and researchers from around the world: Albrecht von Haller, Johann Joachim Winckelmann, and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe all admired its bibliophilic treasures. We present a selection of them for you in rotating cabinet exhibitions in the former reading room of the library.

10 am - 5 pm

Welcome to the realm of knowledge in the Baroque era: Stepping onto creaking floorboards into the quiet grandeur of our historical library hall, one is immediately enveloped by the collective knowledge of the Early Modern period. Like stage sets in a Baroque theater, the original bookshelves jut into the space, housing around 50,000 books from all fields of knowledge. Behind unassuming book spines lie remarkable treasures, such as the first German Bible printed in America.

At the end of the 17th century, the orphanage's library was established as one of the first public libraries in Germany. Primarily through donations, book exchanges, and their own publications, the library grew so rapidly that within a few years, it was comparable to significant German university libraries. In 1728, it received its own building, which is considered the oldest surviving secular library structure in Germany. Not only in recent times has the library been visited by guests and researchers from around the world: Albrecht von Haller, Johann Joachim Winckelmann, and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe all admired its bibliophilic treasures. We present a selection of them for you in rotating cabinet exhibitions in the former reading room of the library.

10 am - 5 pm

Palace-like, the orphanage rises on Franckeplatz. Then as now, it is the centerpiece of the Francke Foundations. Erected in 1698 as the first building of the school city, it represents a new facet of European Baroque, combining confident representation without extravagant ornamentation and setting the tone for orphanage architecture.

Today, the orphanage is our museum and cultural center. Right from the start, two permanent exhibitions guide you through the history of the foundation and the global impact of Pietism. On the first floor, the former prayer and singing hall surprises with its bright architecture. Today, it enjoys an excellent reputation as a concert hall due to its fantastic acoustics. In the adjacent conference rooms, a photo exhibition showcases the impressive renovation work since the foundations were reestablished in 1991. The second floor is reserved for our changing special exhibitions, which provide insight into important themes of the foundation's history from both a historical and contemporary perspective. Passing through the art and natural history collections in the attic, you reach the balcony via a narrow wooden staircase. Here, a wide view opens up over the impressive ensemble with school buildings from three centuries. There is also a splendid panorama of the Old Town of Halle from here. In the basement, children can explore their own paths in the Krokoseum.

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Vocal Deluxe! That means: Three amazing voices, a devil's violin, a silver flute, and 132 keys.

The best-of program of the captivating singing trio is once again a refreshing mix of zest for life, wit, and real depth – always natural and unspoiled. With pieces of their own composition and really good music, the three artists humorously navigate through life with the audience, strictly following the motto:
Außer uns macht´s keiner.
All titles are the same, only we are a bit older.

20 years of Vocal Deluxe: You belong to us!

Dia-Ton-Show with Thomas W. Mücke

The trained opera and chanson singer Thomas W. Mücke and his wife Nina have been a nationwide institution in Germany for over 30 years, showcasing their brilliantly presented medium-format multimedia shows in stunning 6 x 6 image quality and a unique synthesis of words, song, and music.

The singing adventurer Thomas W. Mücke tells:
The suppressed German past "Zwischen Stettin und Königsberg" comes back to light.
The Polish Baltic Coast pampers vacationers not only with a beautiful beach but also with a vast array of guesthouses, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
Historic cities such as Stettin, Kolberg, Gdansk, or Elbing are partially shining again in their old glory and testify that the Poles master the craft of restoration excellently. Masuria, with its many lakes, waterways, and forests, is a paradise in itself - here, silence turns into language. We have also visited the Königsberg area, with its approximately one million inhabitants, several times since the collapse of the Soviet Union and are continually amazed at what is gradually being created here. Once, the area, which was Christianized by the Teutonic Order with a sword, was the easternmost corner of Germany and later the westernmost of the Soviet Empire.

In 1944, British bombers turned the capital of East Prussia, Königsberg, into a sea of flames over two August nights. The British cargo was meant not only to hit this city, where the great thinker I. Kant once taught, but all cities in the area such as Insterburg, Tilsit, Gumbinnen, and many others.

Today, there are Russian activists everywhere exploring the history of the country, which they ignore their ancestors who were settled here after the destruction. They are fully convinced that this East Prussian history is the finishing touch to their identity in this part of Russia.

Today, Kaliningrad is a little Russian, a little German, and very European.
For us, when we are in Russia, whether in Siberia, on the Volga, or on the Don, the question always arises as to how it can be that so many Russians greet you with unpretentious warmth, such openness, and friendliness.

Entrance from 3:30 PM

With "In Stöckelschuhen durchs Himbeereis", Die Schmiere presents a cabaret scene program about the absurdities and pitfalls of modern times. A program about the small and big mishaps of the private sphere, the great dangers and misguided paths of public life. About the blindness and also dumbing down in our colorful, vibrant media world. And when words fail, language breaks down, visitors from the capital arrive and there is singing.
With: Christina Wiederhold, Georg Keim and Matthias Stich