Abstract: Process for preparing chlorine from hydrogen chloride, which comprises the steps: a) feeding of a stream a1 comprising hydrogen chloride and of a stream a2 comprising oxygen into an oxidation zone and catalytic oxidation of hydrogen chloride to chlorine, giving a product gas stream a3 comprising chlorine, water, oxygen, carbon dioxide and inert gases; b) contacting of the product gas stream a3 with aqueous hydrochloric acid I in a phase contact apparatus and partial separation of water and of hydrogen chloride from the stream a3, leaving a gas stream b comprising hydrogen chloride, chlorine, water, oxygen, carbon dioxide and possibly inert gases, with at least 5% of the hydrogen chloride comprised in the stream a3 remaining in the gas stream b; c) drying of the gas stream b) to leave a gas stream c which is substantially free of water and comprises hydrogen chloride, chlorine, oxygen, carbon dioxide and possibly inert gases; d) partial liquefaction of the gas stream c by compression and cooling, giving an at