Görlitz is a wonderful city in Saxony, thanks to its well-preserved medieval architecture and its ideal location on the banks of the Lusatian Neisse River, Görlitz is often visited by tourists. It is certainly worth paying attention to the historic old town, which has over 4,000 architectural monuments from different periods. The Görlitz town hall stands out with its high towers and is a place you absolutely have to visit and go to the observation deck for breathtaking views of the city.
In Görlitz you will find many art galleries, museums and theatres. The Görlitz art collections, presented in the baroque Schönhof building, include a rich collection of paintings, sculptures and decorative art from different periods. And the Gerhart Hauptmann Theater offers a varied program of theatre, opera and ballet.
In the nearby Görlitzer Park, with its lush green areas, well-kept gardens and peaceful ponds, you can find respite from the hustle and bustle of the city center. Further from Görlitz, the Zittau Mountains offer breathtaking hiking trails and opportunities for hiking adventures.
Location
Görlitz is a city in the Saxony state, the seat of the Görlitz district. Situated on the Polish-German border and on the banks of the Lusatian Neisse, it is the easternmost city in Germany.
Berzdorfer Lake
Discover Lake Berzdorf near Görlitz! The former opencast mine now offers many leisure activities such as swimming, sailing, surfing and fishing. The excellent water quality and sandy beaches make it a dream destination for a short or long trip. The lake has a circumference of 18 kilometres and offers picturesque views.
Reichenbach Tower
The Reichenbacher Turm, dating back to the 13th century, is the tallest of Gorlitz’s three preserved watchtowers, standing at 51 meters. The tower was inhabited by a watchman until 1904 and now serves as a viewing platform and part of the Cultural History Museum. Visitors can ascend 165 steps to enjoy panoramic views of the city and explore exhibits on the city’s fortifications, tower clocks, and the life of the watchmen.
Town Hall in Görlitz
The Town Hall of Görlitz has been the place of the city’s administration and jurisdictions since 1350.Over the centuries the administration grew, so did the town hall. It utilizes several buildings of different epoches on the Lower Market Square 6–8. The town hall tower was raised in the 16th century, in 1524 a clock with two dials was added.
It is probably the most beautiful tower in the city, located in the most beautiful place in the old town, Untermarkt. Visitors can explore the tower on a one-hour guided tour. After climbing 191 steps from a height of about 60 m, a fantastic panoramic view opens up.
Synagogue
The synagogue was built between 1909 and 1911. After World War II, the abandoned synagogue fell into disrepair and was robbed. It was heavily damaged during Kristallnacht in 1938, but saved from total destruction and restored in 2021.
The building’s exterior is characterized by intricate stonework, a large central dome, and detailed decorative elements, making it a striking example of early 20th-century synagogue architecture.
Senckenberg Museum of Natural Sciences
The museum shows the variety of life today and the evolution of creatures and transformation of our earth over millions of years. The museum showcases more than 10,000 extraordinary exhibits, including the largest collection of dinosaur species in Germany. In addition to the giant dinosaurs, the Senckenberg exhibition also features countless beetles and shimmering butterflies, a colorful bird world, and the amazing inhabitants of the seas.
A highlight of the museum is the themed areas “Deep Sea” and “Marine Research,” as well as the representation of an Indonesian coral reef, which make the incredible underwater habitat experienceable with all the senses.
The Silesian Museum in Görlitz
The Silesian Museum tells about 900 years of history and culture of Silesia, a unique cultural landscape in the middle of Europe. The house itself, one of the oldest Renaissance buildings in Germany, is also well worth seeing.
The museum shows ancient craftsmanship such as gold work from Breslau/Wroclaw, splendid glassware polished and cut in the glassworks of the Riesengebirge/Sudeten Mountains, brilliantly colored faiences from Proskau (Prószków). Cast iron from Gleiwitz (Gliwice), pottery from Bunzlau (Boleslawiec) and porcelain from the Waldenburg (Walbrzych) region, as well as handicrafts and applied arts from the 17th-19th century, objects of everyday culture, crafts and industry, city life and art from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Turisede Amusement Park & Tree Hotel
The magical Adventure Park offers a fantastic world for children and adults alike: underground secret passages, tree houses, architecture inviting to climb, treetop paths, crazy animals, archaic wellness areas, wild water games, numerous festivals and celebrations, as well as the Turisedian hall for the Krönum celebrations. All this shows how turbulent the life of the Turisedians could once have been. Many of the unique tree houses also offer accommodation.
Tierpark Görlitz
The Görlitz Zoo offers fun environmental education with over 100 natural exhibits and other themed playgrounds. In addition to typical domestic and forest animals, Central Asian species are also the centerpiece of the park. The only Tibetan village in Europe with authentic settings and unique animals provides a connection with the whole world. The enclosure, the discovery barn, changing exhibitions and its own snack bar with regional and sustainable products are worth seeing.
