Halberstadt, a quaint old town of Prussian Saxony, situated in a fertile plain extending from the north foot of the Harz Mountains, 25 miles SW. of Magdeburg. The cathedral, containing fine painted glass, and valuable antiquities and objects of art, although restored in 1850-71, is the most notable building in the town. It was erected in the 13th and 14th centuries in the Pointed style. Other buildings of interest are the church of Our Lady (1146), with antique reliefs and wall-paintings; the town-house (1360-81), before which stands a Roland pillar; the wine-cellar beneath the town-house; and the Peterhof, formerly the residence of the bishops. The chief industries of the town are gloves, cigars, machines, sugar, leather, paper, spirits, &c.; and there are also large workshops for railway repairs. Halberstadt dates from 820, the year in which the see was transplanted from Osterwieck to the site of the town of Halberstadt. It received town rights in 998; was twice burned down in the 12th century; and was held alternately by the Swedes and Imperialists during the Thirty Years' War. In 1648 it was given to Brandenburg. Pop. (1875) 27,800; (1890) 36,786.
See Zschiesche, Halberstadt sonst und jetzt (1882).