Görlitz: Renaissance, City History and the Neisse

Old Town and the history of trade routes

The historic Old Town encompasses around 4,000 historic buildings and is one of the best-preserved historic ensembles in Central Europe. The Untermarkt, the historic heart of Görlitz, is lined with town houses from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The Via Regia also shapes the city’s historic character: Görlitz owes its still-visible wealth and extraordinary splendour to this route. The trade route once connected the trading regions of Thuringia and Saxony in the west with Silesia, Bohemia and Poland in the east.

The Schönhof offers another perspective on this architectural history. After a city fire, it was rebuilt in the Renaissance style from 1526 onwards. Today, it is the main building of the Silesian Museum in Görlitz; it is also one of the oldest Renaissance buildings north of the Alps. At the Holy Sepulchre, the focus is instead on a religious connection and a distinctive group of buildings: the complex was built between 1481 and 1504 and comprises the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre, the Chapel of the Anointing and the Adam Chapel. It is a replica of the holy sites of Jerusalem and the oldest surviving structure of its kind north of the Alps.

Churches, organ and city towers

St Peter’s Church is Saxony’s largest hall church and a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Its features include the Sun Organ, built by Eugenio Casparini towards the end of the 17th century. It can imitate birdsong. Here, the architecture of a large hall church sits alongside an unusual musical feature.

The city towers also offer different ways to explore the city’s history. The Nikolai Tower is the oldest surviving city tower in Görlitz and houses a small exhibition on the city’s history. The Reichenbach Tower has a museum about the history of the city and its towers, as well as an observation platform. When choosing between the two, the key question is whether you are interested in a small exhibition on local history or a museum with a platform.

Museums, cultural events and special experiences

At the live animal exhibition of the Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz, a public feeding takes place at 4 pm on the first Thursday of every month. Admission is included in the museum ticket; check the current calendar before your visit. The museum’s vivarium displays around 70 animal species in twelve elaborate landscape enclosures across an area of 100 square metres.

ViaThea, the street arts festival, is a recurring cultural highlight in Görlitz’s calendar. If you would like to plan your stay around it, check the event dates and programme in advance. The Landskron Brewery offers a different kind of visit, with tours of the traditional brewery followed by a tasting. Tour availability and booking conditions may change.

City park, the Neisse and outdoor routes

Görlitz City Park was laid out in the 19th century. Expansive meadows, mature trees and walking paths define the park in the heart of the city. The Nikolai Cemetery offers a different perspective: with tombs from the Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical periods, it is an open-air art museum.

There are also seasonal activities along the river. In the summer months, you can explore the Neisse Valley from the water on boat trips and paddling tours, experiencing Görlitz from a new perspective and enjoying the natural scenery along the river. Check before your trip whether seasonal activities are available. The Oder-Neisse Cycle Route runs south from Görlitz to Berzdorf Lake. As route conditions can change, it is worth checking the latest route information before setting off. For a personalised route from one filming location to another across the city, there is the free Walk of Görliwood® with the SmartGuide app. Check before your trip whether the app is available.

Connections for further planning

The Old Town Bridge is a pedestrian bridge over the Neisse. Since 2004, it has once again connected Görlitz with its Polish sister city, Zgorzelec, allowing you to cross the border on foot. For journeys in the surrounding area, the RB65 runs from Görlitz via Görlitz/Weinhübel and Hagenwerder, continuing to Ostritz and Zittau. Line E runs from Görlitz-Weinhübel via Deutsch Ossig, Hagenwerder Bahnhof, Hagenwerder Ort, Sportzentrum and Tauchritz/West to the Blaue Lagune. Check the RB65 timetables and the route of Line E before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Hähnichen, Zittau, Olbersdorf, Grossschönau, Jonsdorf, Bertsdorf-Hörnitz, Hainewalde, Leutersdorf, Oybin.

For the main travel overview: Saxony.