Beautiful Gorlitz, Germany
Görlitz, Germany
Located right along the River Neisse and the Polish frontier, Görlitz is the easternmost city in Germany. It also boasts an exceptionally well preserved old town with soaring spires, red rooftops, cobblestone streets and spacious squares. Having been spared much damage during World War II and radiating a ton of Gilded Age charm, Görlitz has become a very popular filming location for major Hollywood movies as well as television productions. These circumstances have given rise to the popular nickname "Görliwood" and indeed such well known films as "The Grand Budapest Hotel" with Ralph Fiennes, "The Reader" with Kate Winslet or "Monuments Men" with George Clooney were all filmed on location in Görlitz, using the city's beautiful architecture as the perfect backdrop. Indeed the city is frequently used to stand in for larger European cities for period pieces, including the depiction of Berlin at the turn of the 20th century.
Here are just some clips and glimpses of these famous films, including scenes from "Görliwood":
Görlitz is also a city without borders and passing over one of the three river bridges to its sister city Zgorzelec, Poland is seamless and highly enjoyable, offering great views of the landmark cathedral. The history extends to the elegant railway station and pedestrianized city centre streets, where early 20th century arcades and stately public buildings frame the scene. The Hauptbahnhof is noteworthy for its elegant terminal building and arched canopy over the platforms, all dating from 1917.
Aside from the cultural and historical attractions in Görlitz, the area beholds appeal for railway enthusiasts, given the stunning, stone-arched cross-border viaduct to Poland, which towers high above the river valley and first opened in 1847, during the heyday of 19th century railway pioneering. Conveniently, the narrow steam railways at Bad Muskau and Zittau are also in close proximity to Görlitz, making it the city at the crossroads of Saxony and Silesia and the ideal base for holidays in Eastern Germany. Get a taste for these fantastic heritage railways in Bad Muskau and at Zittau with their black and red tank engines:
Görlitz also features a pocket-sized tram network with various historic Duewag and Tatra vehicles that make getting around easy. Indeed our escorted holidays to Görlitz actually include private charter tram rides through the storied streets of the old town, using either the iconic yellow tramway from 1928 (which has also featured in countless films) or the popular bar car with complimentary draft beer and little nibbles served aboard.
While virtually all escorted holidays to Saxony showcase Dresden, we are pleased to combine visits to Leipzig, Dresden and Görlitz in our regional itineraries, giving you access to such a charming and unexpected place that is truly worth a visit and may definitely be considered a "best kept secret" just a bit off the beaten path.
Our next guided tour in 2021 to Görlitz will be the December 2021 holiday to Germany for the annual Christmas Markets and then in January 2022 for winter steam.
For full itinerary details, click below:
Steam and Christmas Markets in Saxony and Silesia
Highlights of Germany, Harz Mountains, Saxony and Baltic Coast
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