German Sights
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Görlitz, Germany

Where is Görlitz?

Görlitz is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the east German state of Saxony.

Located right on the Neisse river, which forms the border with Poland, it is Germany's easternmost town.

The church of St Peter and St Paul in Görlitz seen from across the border in Poland
The church of St Peter and St Paul in Görlitz seen from across the river Neisse

Görlitz is renowned for its architectural treasures spanning different eras. The setting of the old town has led to it featuring as a backdrop to many well-known films - so much so that it now has the nickname 'Görli-wood'.

Right on the edge of eastern Germany, Görlitz has good connections into Poland and Czech Republic, as well as a local rail line to Dresden.

How to get to Görlitz

Nearest airport to Görlitz

Unusually for German towns, two airports in neighbouring countries feature high up the list for options for those seeking nearby flights.

Distance to Dresden Airport: 103km
Distance to Copernicus (Wroclaw) Airport: 173km
Distance to Vaclev Havel (Prague) Airport: 179km
Distance to Berlin Brandenberg Airport: 195km
Distance to Leipzig/Halle Airport: 226km

The airport in Dresden is still the closest and most convenient if suitable flights are available. The airport at Wroclaw in Poland is a hub for low-cost airlines, while Vaclev Havel airport near Prague has a range of flights suiting the capital of the Czech Republic.

Alternatively, the airport at Berlin may provide appropriate options from its wide range of destinations.

Train station in Görlitz

The Görlitz train station is around a 10 minute walk from the old town (slightly longer down to the river). It is at the end of a regional line from Dresden and the services are operated by a private company Trilex (who offer cheaper day tickets than the more common Sachsen Ticket if travelling on this route).

There are also regular services from Berlin via Cottbus and a train runs between Dresden and Wroclaw (Breslau in German) in Poland three times a day.

Where to stay in Görlitz

Görlitz is a popular tourist destination and, as such, has a good range of accommodation for the visitor.

Many of the hotels are located in the old town and the area down towards the river and the Polish border, although a few are situated in the area closer to the train station.

Görlitz accommodation map

If you know when you are planning to go but haven't decided on accommodation, then use the map below to get an idea of which properties are available and to compare prices during the period you wish to travel.

Enter your proposed dates and use the '+' to zoom in on a location and reveal more properties. Click on the price above a property to see more information.

(Please note that this selection will also include some guesthouses, pensions and self-catering apartments for those who are interested in that form of accommodation!)

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Görlitz History

The region around Görlitz - known as Upper Lusatia - was settled back in the Stone Ages and was part of the area that was affected by Germanic and Slavic tribes sweeping across central Europe as they searched for a settled home.

It was subject to the influence of three medieval states - Poland, Bohemia and the powerful Holy Roman Empire and was first mentioned in a document in the 11th century when it was granted as a gift to the Bishop of Meißen.

A few years later the Bohemian rulers took control and remained in charge for more than five centuries.

The old town hall in GorlitzThe old town hall in Görlitz

Like so many other towns in the area, trade was what brought the development into a thriving population centre. Görlitz was on the Via Regia which connected Moscow with northern Spain - its neighbours were Leipzig and Erfurt to the west and Breslau (Wroclaw) to the east.

It became the most important point on the route between Poland and Erfurt once it was granted monopoly rights for the trading of woad dye (which meant that clothes could be dyed blue) in Bohemia.

During this time of prosperity the rulers of Görlitz took the opportunity to fortify the settlement with town walls - a far-sighted decision as the town would find itself continually affected by wars over the next centuries.

It quickly declared for the Reformation but ended up on the losing side in the war that followed and suffered in the Thirty Years' and Seven Years' wars.

It had been granted to the Electorate of Saxony in the 17th century, but following the defeat of Napoleon (Saxony had been an ally) Görlitz was made part of Silesia (part of Prussia).

The old town hall in GorlitzA square in Görlitz town centre

Like other towns in the region, Prussian control led to a rapid expansion due to factories and connecting railways being built.

Old Görlitz remained relatively unscathed from the bombing raids of the Second World War - only the bridge across the river was destroyed. The Neisse river became the border with Poland following the war and Görlitz became a neglected outpost at the edge of East Germany. It also lost the part of the town which was now in Poland - now known as the sister city Zgorzelec.

Since German unification, the small town has become a popular retirement centre (especially for residents of Berlin), although locals complain about the increasing average age of the population and the lack of jobs and prospects in the town.

Görlitz and the Movies

Görlitz remained virtually untouched during the Second World War and can boast a cultural heritage of thousands of buildings from centuries of history and different eras of art and architecture.

It's that backdrop that has made the town such a magnet for film-makers looking for an historic setting to stand in for a street scene in a Paris or Berlin which no longer exists.

The first major film to be set in the town was back in the 1950s and the Görlitz tourist office say that there have been more than 100 productions since those days.

The town hall in Gorlitz which stood in for the exterior of The Grand Budapest Hotel
The town hall in Görlitz - the exterior of The Grand Budapest Hotel

Perhaps the biggest film to be set here was the Wes Anderson hit 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' - where the new town hall (see photo) stood in for the exterior of the hotel and a department store with an art deco interior for the interior.

Other Hollywood films which have featured Görlitz include:

  • Around the World in 80 Days
  • The Reader
  • Inglourious Basterds
  • Monuments Men
  • The Book Thief

Interestingly and mysteriously, an anonymous contributor donated half a million Euros a year to the town from 1995 until recently on two conditions:

  • the contributor must remain anonymous
  • the money can only be used for the upkeep of the old town

This money has helped to restore around 70% of the estimated 4000 protected buildings.

The tourist office can organise a guided tour of the film locations (German only).

Görlitz Tourist Office

The Tourist Office in Görlitz is situated at one end of the Obermarkt square in the old town. The office is open seven days a week in the summer season and closed in the weekend afternoons outside this time.
Website: www.visit-goerlitz.com