Görlitz

Görlitz is a town in the eastern German state of Saxony, located on the Neisse river directly opposite its Polish twin city Zgorzelec. The border divides the two towns, which together form the cross-border urban area of Görlitz-Zgorzelec. With roughly 55,000 inhabitants, Görlitz is one of Germany’s easternmost towns and a major historic center of the region.

Founded in the 13th century, Görlitz grew as a trading town on routes linking Central Europe and Silesia. Its largely intact historic center features a wealth of architectural styles from Gothic and Renaissance to Baroque and Historicist periods, giving the area one of Europe’s most extensive ensembles of well-preserved façades.

Landmarks include the town hall and a range of churches and guild houses set among narrow lanes and arcades. The city center’s architectural unity and variety make Görlitz a popular destination for visitors and for film productions; the city has earned the nickname Görliwood for its role as a filming location, notably for the Grand Budapest Hotel and other projects.

In the postwar period, the border region became a symbol of cross-border cooperation within the European Union; together with Zgorzelec it forms a continuous cross-border urban area and participates in international cooperation programs.

Education and culture play a significant role in Görlitz. The city hosts campuses of the University of Applied Sciences Zittau/Görlitz, contributing to a local academic scene and a vibrant cultural life that continues to attract tourists and researchers alike.