Gorlitz

At the easternmost point of Germany, Görlitz is the largest town in Upper Lusatia, lying 21 miles (34 km) north of Zittau and 28 miles (45 km) east of Bautzen. At the end of World War II the victorious Allies divided Görlitz into two parts, with the eastern half given to Poland, the western half ceded to East Germany. The good news is that the Oder-Neisse river borders created in 1945 gave the historic old city on the west bank to Germany, the suburbs and the less attractive town ending up as the Polish city of Zgorzelec. Görlitz itself was left relatively intact and spared from allied bombing. Today you can wander its narrow ...

At the easternmost point of Germany, Görlitz is the largest town in Upper Lusatia, lying 21 miles (34 km) north of Zittau and 28 miles (45 km) east of Bautzen. At the end of World War II the victorious Allies divided Görlitz into two parts, with the eastern half given to Poland, the western half ceded to East Germany. The good news is that the Oder-Neisse river borders created in 1945 gave the historic old city on the west bank to Germany, the suburbs and the less attractive town ending up as the Polish city of Zgorzelec. Görlitz itself was left relatively intact and spared from allied bombing. Today you can wander its narrow pre-war cobblestone alleys, taking in its buildings from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance eras. After the war, Görlitz fell into a deep sleep. Not much changed to awaken "the sleeping beauty" - hence, its antique appearance today. The best street for wandering is the Obermarkt (Upper Market) where the past lives on, and the city's oldest section centering around Untermarkt or the Lower Market, dominated by its Rathaus or town hall.

About the Expert

Darwin Porter and Danforth Prince have written many guidebooks for Frommer's, including Frommer's France and Frommer's Germany.