Over the past few decades, the historic old town of Görlitz has developed into a popular tourist destination. Visitors from all over the world come here to discover charming buildings from the late Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance periods. On a guided tour of the city…
… you can learn more about the impressive listed buildings. Many of these buildings date back to the 13th century. Many of these buildings are shrouded in fascinating legends. Particularly worth seeing is the Old Town Hall on Untermarkt, an elaborately decorated Renaissance building with a striking, raised tower. This magnificent building is connected to the New Town Hall, which is equally impressive with its magnificent facade.
Görlitz is one of the most impressive cities in Germany. The old town of Görlitz is one of the most beautiful in Europe. The city of Görlitz seems as if time passes more slowly here. From the moment you set foot here, you can feel the special atmosphere that draws you into Görlitz. And suddenly you realize that every corner tells a story.
The picturesque old town of Görlitz is home to impressive sights such as the fortifications with city walls, Kaisertrutz and Zwinger. In the past, the Upper Market and Lower Market were important trading centers, but today they are the lively center of the city. After a tour of the city, you can take a break in one of the numerous cafés on the market square. Here you can relax and soak up the colorful hustle and bustle. The central squares are also the venue for regular events. These include the Silesian Tippelmarkt and the Silesian Christkindelmarkt. These events attract many visitors from near and far every year.
A special highlight at the Untermarkt is the Görlitz Whispering Arch, the city’s most popular photo motif. This late Gothic portal impresses not only with its rich decorations, but also with its unique acoustics: a whisper at one end of the arch can be heard clearly at the other end. This architectural feature makes the Whispering Arch a magical place.
You can park conveniently at the Obermarkt, which is also one of Görlitz’s sights. At more than 250 meters long, it is the largest square in Görlitz’s old town. When you stand here, you are surrounded by almost 800 years of history. In 1250, people laid out the fruit market, but wars and fires repeatedly destroyed its buildings. This does not detract from its beauty, as the buildings were always rebuilt in new splendor. Stand in the middle of the square and slowly turn around in a circle. Then you can take in all its beauty. The predominant buildings are Baroque town houses, richly decorated in pastel colors.
At the eastern end, you will find the beautiful Georgsbrunnen fountain, also known as the Heroldbrunnen fountain, which was built by the citizens in 1590. Take a moment to look at it up close. On the other side of the square, to the west, another of Görlitz’s landmarks dominates the scene: the Reichenbacher Tower, built around 1376. From here, your route continues into Görlitz’s old town. Before you do so, however, we recommend spending some time at one of the cafés on Obermarkt. Enjoy the romance of Görlitz’s old town and breathe in the history of years gone by. Once you have regained your strength, your route will naturally lead you from Obermarkt to Untermarkt – as if by itself.
You can reach the Untermarkt by walking about 300 meters along Brüderstraße Street. It is another beautiful part of Görlitz’s sights. It got its name from the time when the brothers of the former Franciscan monastery walked along here. At that time, the Franciscan monastery was located on the Obermarkt. Enjoy the magnificent beauty of the row of houses. The buildings on both sides date mainly from the Renaissance. Brüderstraße is part of the Via Regia, the King’s Road, which ran through Europe from east to west.
After a short distance, you will reach the Untermarkt Lower Market, another highlight of Görlitz’s old town and one of the most beautiful squares. Beautiful historic buildings line the square, and the romanticism of the rows of houses immediately draws you in. You walk along the Untermarkt, the cobblestones sounding like a good friend. You look up: the gables tell stories of craftsmanship, love, and work. The Untermarkt has been around since 1305.
Medieval hall houses line parts of the square, and 35 of these magnificent buildings still characterize Görlitz’s old town today. In the Middle Ages, merchants sold their goods in the halls, which is why the townspeople also call them trading courtyards or patrician houses. You can admire their richly decorated facades. You will find elements from different eras, depending on when they were built: Gothic, Renaissance, or Baroque.
Among all the beautiful buildings, one in particular is sure to catch your eye: the old town hall of Görlitz. Parts of the building date back to 1350. You can’t miss it, because the mighty town hall tower is visible from afar. It was built between 1511 and 1516 to a height of 63 meters. It’s worth the climb, even if the many steps make you sweat. You’ll be rewarded with a sensational view of Görlitz’s old town. The tower is open from March to December, but it’s best to check beforehand to be on the safe side.
In front of the Old Town Hall, in the middle of the Untermarkt, you will find the Neptune Fountain. As the name suggests, it is adorned with a sculpture of the god of water. Its origins date back to 1756. As you move away from the Old Town Hall towards the Neptune Fountain, your gaze will fall on the New Town Hall. It stands directly opposite the Old Town Hall. The impressive, richly decorated building was constructed in 1903 in the Neo-Renaissance style. It is a very young building compared to the numerous significantly older buildings in Görlitz’s old town. Nevertheless, it is very beautiful.
Have you heard of the Whispering Arch (Flüsterbogen)? It is one of the most visited sights in Görlitz and is also located on the Untermarkt. Craftsmen began construction in 1500. From the outside, you can see a rounded, late Gothic, and ornately decorated portal. The Whispering Arch gets its name from its special acoustics: if you whisper something at the entrance, someone at the other end of the passageway can hear it clearly.
There are numerous other sights in Görlitz’s old town. Let yourself drift through the old town streets. Of course, there are also numerous churches among Görlitz’s sights. You should also plan some time for these. The impressive buildings bear witness to the long and rich history of the city of Görlitz. In any case, the parish church of St. Peter and Paul, also known as St. Peter’s Church, should be on your sightseeing list.
From Untermarkt, walk along Peterstraße and after about 250 meters, you will reach your destination, the parish church of St. Peter and Paul, in just a few minutes. Even at first glance, it is impressive. The 72-meter-long, pointed copper roof rises strikingly into the sky. The former wealth of Görlitz is clearly evident here. The origins of the church date back to the 11th century. In 1372, it became the main church of Görlitz. In 1423, it was rebuilt in the Gothic style into a mighty hall church. Take your time and visit the church from the inside as well. A special feature is the famous “sun organ” from 1703, which depicts the sun with 17 organ pipes arranged in a radial pattern.
There is at least one thing you should not miss: the view of the city of Görlitz from the Lusatian Neisse. Here, too, you can reach your destination in just a few minutes. It is only 200 meters and about 3 minutes to the Old Town Bridge. When you cross it, you leave Germany, because the Neisse forms the border with Poland.
From the Neisse, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Görlitz’s sights. The parish church of St. Peter and Paul and the old town look particularly impressive from here. A boat trip on the Neisse is a special experience. You can start your “river romance” 5 minutes away from the Old Town Bridge. You glide along the river in an electric boat and enjoy breathtaking views of Görlitz’s old town.
Special tip: Book a boat trip for the evening. You glide along the river at dusk and can enjoy the illuminated old town of Görlitz. There is hardly a more romantic way to experience the city.
The long and glorious history of the city of Görlitz began with its first documented mention in 1071. At that time, the inhabitants called the village “villa gorelic.” In 1303, Görlitz was granted city rights.
The city of Görlitz was located on the “Via Regia” (High Road), one of the oldest and most important trade routes in Europe. Merchants traded cloth, furs, wax, and honey from west to east and vice versa. Cloth weaving became important far beyond the city limits. The old town of Görlitz grew around the Obermarkt. Görlitz became very prosperous. Many late Gothic and Baroque buildings still bear witness to this period today.
The Via Regia remains a special attraction for hikers and pilgrims to this day. As Germany’s oldest St. James’ Way, it runs from Görlitz to Vacha and covers a total of 467 kilometers.
Görlitz lost its city rights during the Thirty Years’ War. Fires and conflicts marked these years and made them particularly turbulent. In the 19th century, Görlitz flourished once again, and entrepreneurs built cloth factories and wool spinning mills. They used the water power of the Neisse River. Industrialization brought prosperity. Thus, at the end of the 19th century, Görlitz developed into one of the richest and most charming provincial cities in Germany.
The buildings from different centuries have been largely preserved, as the city of Görlitz was not destroyed in World War II. This is precisely why Görlitz is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Germany today.
The history of the city is closely linked to Jewish culture. An outstanding example of this is the Görlitz Synagogue. It is one of the few Jewish places of worship that survived the destruction of Kristallnacht in 1938 unscathed. After extensive renovations, visitors now often use the synagogue as a venue for events. It is considered an important monument to Jewish history and culture in Saxony.
Tip for film fans: Many affectionately refer to Görlitz as “Görliwood.” More than 100 films have used Görlitz’s old town as an authentic backdrop. These include blockbusters such as “The Reader,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” and “Around the World in 80 Days.” On the “Walk of Görliwood” you can visit the filming locations of well-known movies.
Tips for the view: If you want to see Görlitz from above, you can choose the Reichenbach Tower. 165 steps take you to a height of 51 meters, where you have a wonderful view over the city. Alternatively, you can climb the 45-meter-high Nikolaiturm tower, which was first mentioned in 1348. The old town of Görlitz will then lie at your feet. And then, of course, there is the town hall tower right on the Untermarkt with its fantastic view.
Tips for festivals: Görlitz offers numerous events and festivals throughout the year. You can find out about the annual highlights on the website. We would like to highlight two events in particular:
The Old Town Festival takes place on the last weekend in August. Together with the Jakuby Festival in Zgorzelec on the Polish side of the Neisse River, the townspeople celebrate joyfully for three days. As you can imagine, the backdrop of Görlitz’s old town provides an excellent setting.
And then there is the Silesian Christmas Market in Görlitz, which always offers a magical, atmospheric setting in December. It takes place in the beautiful old town of Görlitz. Here you can experience pure romance.
What else is there to see nearby? Not far away, south of Görlitz, is the Zittau Mountains Nature Park. The smallest of Germany’s low mountain ranges offers you wildly romantic nature. You can enjoy huge sandstone rock formations on numerous hiking trails. Their photogenic nature is reminiscent of the world-famous Saxon Switzerland. The mountain peaks reach a height of 793 meters.
About an hour’s drive north of Görlitz is the Rakotz Bridge, also known as the Devil’s Bridge, built between 1866 and 1875. Standing in front of the famous arch of the bridge, you can feel an almost mystical atmosphere. You may already be familiar with it from numerous photographs. According to FOTO ONLINE, it is one of the most beautiful photo spots in Germany. The bridge attracts visitors from all over the world.
The bridge is integrated into the picturesque Kromlau Rhododendron Park. Covering around 180 hectares, Germany’s largest rhododendron park allows you to enjoy the blooms of azaleas and rhododendrons. Admission to the park is free. We recommend planning a day trip to Kromlau Rhododendron Park and Rakotz Bridge.
An even more spectacular natural experience can be found just under an hour north of Görlitz: the Fürst-Pückler-Park, also known as Muskauer Park, which was laid out between 1815 and 1845. Covering an area of 830 hectares, it is the largest English-style park in Central Europe. The park has been a World Heritage Site since 2004. Here, too, you should plan a full day for your visit.
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