Website of Görlitz

Location: Federal State of Saxony, Germany                                                
Population: 57,000
Mayor: Oktawian Ursu
Distance from Nový Jičín: 430 km
Partnership: since 1981
Industry: mechanical engineering, manufacture of electronic and optical devices, construction companies
Partner cities: Nový Jičín (Czech Republic), Wiesbaden (Germany), Zgorzelec (Poland), Amiens (France), Molfetta (Italy)

Görlitz (Czech: Zhořelec) is Germany’s easternmost town, situated on the border with Poland. The sixth-largest town in the Free State of Saxony lies on the upper reaches of the Lusatian Neisse and has a population of 57,000.

When towns were divided after the Second World War, Görlitz was split into two parts – the Polish town of Zgorzelec and the German town of Görlitz.

The first documented mention of the town dates back to 1071, and the first urban settlement began to develop around 1220. Major trade routes began to pass through the area, bringing the town greater importance and growth.

Görlitz is one of the best-preserved historic towns in Germany; it suffered little damage even during the war. The extensive historic quarter contains around 4,000 listed buildings, mainly town houses dating from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Among the landmarks is the majestic and imposing late-Gothic Peterskirche cathedral. The oldest secular building is the Waidhaus, dating from the first half of the 12th century.

The most interesting street is Neißstraße, home to the so-called ‘Bible House’ with its sandstone façade depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments. Close by stands a house whose magnificent Baroque façade conceals one of the oldest libraries in Saxony, originally the region’s foremost academic library.

The department store on Demiani Square offers a unique shopping experience. This gem of pure Art Nouveau, which has survived many decades of change whilst remaining almost unchanged, is characterised by its enormous skylight and gallery-style retail areas.

Close by, you can also admire the Schönhof, one of the city’s most impressive buildings, which formerly housed a brewery. Today it is home to the Silesian Museum, where you will find 17th–19th-century arts and crafts, artisanal and industrial products, and art from the 19th and early 20th centuries. A visit to the Toy Museum is sure to delight not just children. Over 4,000 exhibits from the Ore Mountains will take you on a journey through the world of toys from 1850 to the present day.

The town is also a popular choice for film locations. For example, the scene in front of the local town hall, with its clock dating from 1524, conjures up the pure spirit of the Renaissance on screen. Even during the era of the German Democratic Republic, historical films and fairy tales were shot here time and time again. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Görlitz once again became the ‘Paris of the 19th century’, and Brad Pitt and his colleagues recently filmed the movie *Inglourious Basterds* here.

Görlitz is probably the best place to sample Silesian cuisine. The best-known dish is arguably the Silesian ‘Himmelreich’, made from smoked pork belly and dried fruit, served with potato dumplings. Görlitz cakes are also renowned.

Lake Berzdorf lies close to the town. It was created from the former Hagenwerder-Berzdorf brown coal mine, which was flooded via a pipeline with water from the Lužická Nisa. It is open to the public as a huge sports complex offering a wide range of activities.

Best-known events

Görlitz Jazz Days (May/June)
Altstadtfest – similar to the Nový Jičín town festival (August)
Bach Festival (September)

Interesting facts

The town’s coat of arms features the Silesian eagle and the Bohemian lion, as for much of its history it did not belong to Germany but to the Kingdom of Bohemia.

Between 1995 and 2016, the town had a mysterious benefactor who sent one million marks every year on condition that he remained anonymous. The funds had to be spent on the restoration of the town’s historic centre.

Notable figures born here include the outstanding mathematician and cartographer Bartholomäus Scultetus and the footballer Michael Ballack.

Basic phrases

Hello/Goodbye - Guten Tag/Auf Wiedersehen
Where is the hotel/restaurant/train station, please? - Bitte, wo ist das Hotel/das Restaurant/der Bahnhof?
I would like to order... - Ich möchte gern … bestellen.
Thank you/You're welcome - Danke/Nichts zu danken
Do you speak English/German/French? - Sprechen Sie englisch/deutsch/französisch?
I am from the Czech Republic/Nový Jičín - Ich komme aus der Tschechischen Republik/aus Neutitschein.