The decorative towers we can see peeping over the Town Hall roof belong to one of the town's medieval churches, the Church of St. Johannis. In times gone by a watchman used to sit in one of the asymmetrical towers ready to warn the town of the approach of enemies or of the outbreak of fire. Today it houses students. Of greater artistic importance is the St. Jakobi Church, a Gothic masterpiece. Its most precious treasure is the altar piece created in 1402 by an unknown master.
Contemporary art is to be found in the many galleries.
And last but not least we must mention the Town Archives with their unparalleled collection of records going back almost without a break to 1229. The musical scene spans an equally wide range, extending from symphony concerts to the Jazz Festival. Outstanding events in the musical world are the annual Handel Festival and the International Organ Festival. The Town Concert Hall, seating 1,200, provides a splendid and technically perfect setting for musical performances - and also for performances by visiting theatrical companies, shows and balls. Records show that the town already had a school at that time.