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Halle (dpa / sa) - From the ruin to the modern educational cosmos: the reconstruction of the Francke Foundations in Halle has finally been completed after three decades.
The historic school town was threatened with demolition until reunification.
"It is like an endurance run, a marathon, which we have achieved in the past 30 years in a joint effort," said Foundation Director Thomas Müller-Bahlke on Thursday.
A total of 157 million euros have been invested in the half-timbered ensemble with around 50 buildings from the 17th to 20th centuries since 1990.
The reconstruction of the Francke Foundations will end with a corona-related digital ceremony.
Minister of State for Culture Monika Grütters and Saxony-Anhalt's Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff (both CDU) are expected to watch the live stream.
Most of the money for the reconstruction of the school town came from the federal government, the state, the EU and the city.
Around 20 million euros were raised through private donations with the help of organizations such as the church and other foundations.
Schools, daycare centers, research facilities and university facilities are located on the site.
There are leisure and care offers for all generations.
Two former barns and a printing shop were among the buildings that were recently renovated and equipped for modern use.
Part of this is to be used by the Federal Culture Foundation, which is also based in the foundations.
The Francke Foundations are today a “flourishing educational cosmos”, a unique cultural monument of national importance, said Müller-Bahlke.
Like hardly any other cultural institution in Germany, they embodied the formative Protestant tradition of education and social engagement.
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"We are not an open-air museum," emphasized Müller-Bahlke.
The aim of the foundations is to impart knowledge regardless of social origin and to further develop society through education and culture - in the spirit of the founder August Hermann Francke (1663–1727).
The theologian, pietist and pedagogue initially set up the foundations as an orphanage in the 17th century.
From this a school town of European standing developed with social institutions, businesses and lands.
Francke was considered a progressive pedagogue across Europe because of his teaching methods.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210318-99-876043 / 2
The Francke Foundations
Digital Francke celebration