Gothic spires and Renaissance facades line the cobblestone streets of this eastern German town, where UNESCO-protected architecture spans five centuries.
Görlitz, Germany's easternmost town, stretches along the Lusatian Neisse River on the Polish border. Its streets contain 4,000 preserved buildings from different periods - you'll find Renaissance merchant houses with intricate portals, Gothic church spires, and Art Nouveau facades with decorative elements. Hollywood directors have turned these streets into movie sets, including Wes Anderson for "The Grand Budapest Hotel" and Quentin Tarantino for "Inglourious Basterds".
Getting to Görlitz
You can reach Görlitz by train from Dresden in 1.5 hours or from Berlin in about 3 hours. Take the Trilex railway service from Dresden - it costs less than Deutsche Bahn's Sachsen Ticket. From the main station, walk 10 minutes east to reach the old town center.
Exploring the Old Town
Follow the cobblestone streets laid out in the 13th century to discover two main squares. The Untermarkt (Lower Market Square) centers around the town hall, with its golden astronomical clock and 60-meter tower. Climb 191 steps to see both German and Polish sides of the river valley. At the Obermarkt (Upper Market Square), stop by the tourist information office for maps and guided tour schedules.
Movie Locations
Directors transform Görlitz's streets into different European cities. The Kaufhaus department store's Art Deco staircases and atrium became the interior of the Grand Budapest Hotel, while the town hall served as its exterior. Tarantino turned the market squares into a French village for "Inglourious Basterds". Since the 1950s, more than 100 film crews have worked in these streets.
Crossing to Poland
Walk across the Old Town Bridge (Altstadtbrücke) to enter Zgorzelec, Poland. The bridge leads directly to a riverside promenade. A city bus connects both sides of the river, and the two city councils hold joint sessions. In 1998, they officially united as one European City.
Museums and Churches
Step into the Schönhof, Germany's oldest Renaissance building, to explore the Silesian Museum's exhibits about Central European culture. Inside St. Peter's Church, listen to the 1697 organ play unusual sounds - it mimics cuckoos, nightingales, and other animals. The city's history comes alive across three locations: the Baroque House, the round Kaisertrutz fortification, and the medieval Reichenbach Tower.
Around Görlitz
Cycle south along the Oder-Neisse Trail to Lake Berzdorf, a former mining pit transformed into a swimming and sailing spot. In the surrounding Upper Lusatia region, visit the curved Rakotz Bridge at Kromlau Park or walk through the landscaped gardens of Bad Muskau castle.
