Goerlitz flanks the Lusatian Neisse River and is the largest city in the district of the same name. It has a great range of architectural styles, from Gothic and Renaissance to Baroque and art nouveau. Wander through the town center to get a sense of the history and changing styles in this eclectic town.
Check out the buildings in the old quarter, such as Goerlitz City Hall on the Untermarkt plaza. Admire the dramatic façade and clock tower of this 14th-century structure.
Learn the religious history of the town through the majestic St. Peter’s Church. Capture photos of its Romanesque façade and copper roof. Visit the Holy Grave in the northwestern part of the town. This chapel was built in the late 15th century as a replica of the original in Jerusalem.
View the town from a quirkier angle on the Goerlitz Vintage Miniature Railway. Bring the kids on the green-and-yellow locomotive that journeys through a park beside the old quarter.
Goerlitz sits alongside the Polish town of Zgorzelec. The two towns were joined until 1945. Cross the river via one of the two bridges to enter Poland and explore Goerlitz’s historic other half.
Due to the town’s diverse architecture, it has been used as a setting for many movies, notably Inglourious Basterds, The Book Thief, The Reader and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Expect cold and dark winters, when snowfall adds another charm to the city’s architecture. In summer, relish the warm weather and take a trip to the Goerlitz Conservation Zoo and the leafy stretch of fields and woodland that make up the Goerlitz Stadtpark.
The town is located by the Berzdorfer Lake in the easternmost part of Germany, nearby the Saxon Switzerland National Park. Fly to Dresden Airport and drive or take the railway for 60 miles (100 kilometers). Trains bound for Goerlitz Station also depart from Berlin.
Goerlitz is a scenic town with intriguing architecture complemented by leafy parks, a river and a large lake.
