Nikolaivorstadt (Nikolai district) and other Görlitz, Germany Off The Beaten Path Tips

One of the particularly charming districts of Görlitz is the area north of the centre of the old town, the so called "Nikolaivorstadt". It is the place where the Slavs first settled in the 11th century. Nowadays it is characterised by small cobbled alleys with beautiful 3- or 4-floor medieval houses, often redesigned in later centuries.

It is the district of craftsmen with their workshops, a quiet and charming part of the town. Don't miss the former city gate ("Finstertor", 1455), the Nikolai cemetery and St. Nikolai church (see next tips).

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St. Nikolai is the oldest church of Görlitz. Built at the turn of the 11th/12th century it was rebuilt in Gothic style, starting 1372 with long breaks to 1520.

1525 - 26 the interior was redesigned for the new purpose: a memorial place for the victims of WWI. At the moment it is home of the Jacob Boehme exhibit.

A few examples of the Baroque interior are preserved. The altar dates from 1720, its painting from the 19th century. Very interesting are the lean pillars, which replaced the original Gothic pillars in 1925. They are made of concrete and painted, in a style of impressionistic influenced Neo-Gothic.

opening hours:
May - Oct 11 - 17 h
March, April, Nov 10 - 16 h (Sun from 11 h)
closed Dec - Feb

small admission fee, combi ticket with Holy Sepulchre

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Phone: (03581)31 58 64
Website: http://kulturstiftung.eksol.net/nikolaikirche

This historical cemetery was first mentioned 1310, enlarged 1559. It is definitely one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Germany.

Only very few tombs from the Renaissance are preserved. Most Renaissance tombstones were moved to the other old churches in Görlitz.

Well worth to see are the many magnificent tombs (often small burial houses, see picture) from 1600 to 1848 (when the cemetery was closed).

Don't miss to see the tomb of the local hero, philosopher Jacob Böhme, who died 1624.

The cemetery has an unique atmosphere, go and feel yourself! A hint: restoration has just started, many tombs and small burial houses are in bad condition. I hope that the special charm has not gone after restoration.

opening hours: see St. Nikolai church (previous tip), no admission fee

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Website: http://kulturstiftung.eksol.net/nikolaikirche/nikolaifriedhof

There is a butcher's shop in Görlitz which is famous for its interior (similar to Pfund's Molkerei, the dairy shop in Dresden). It is located Bismarckstrasse 3, in a townhouse built 1876. In 1911 the shop was decorated with tiles by Villeroy & Boch. The tiles depict scenes of the butcher's work, the process from the cow to the meat in the shop. It is just lovely ...

In 1993 the shop was originally restored. Unfortunately Villeroy & Boch refused to manufacture the few missing tiles, but luckily a small porcelain tiles manufacture from Meissen helped out.

(more of the interior in the additional pics)

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This is another of the many nice churches in Görlitz - very special is its history. In 1986 the administration of the GDR decided that for economical reasons (coal mining) the small village Deutsch-Ossig, a few km south of Görlitz, had to disappear from mother earth. The question was - what to do with that well-known Baroque Parish church? Surprisingly the communists agreed to deconstruct the old church stone by stone and rebuild it originally in Görlitz-Königshufen. In 1988 the deconstruction began and in 1994 the first mass was celebrated in the "new" church.

The church was originally built 1715-18. There are beautifully decorated patronage boxes inside, a huge, stunning altar with pulpit by local sculptor von Rodewitz, a nice Baroque baptist angel sculpture etc. Well worth a visit, open Fri/Sat. Take tram No. 2 or 3 to the stop "Am Friedhof". From there it is a 3 min. walk.

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After the reformation there had been no catholic church in Görlitz for about 300 years. But in 1870 more than 2,600 catholics lived in the town, so building a church was a must.

The cathedral St. Jacob was built 1898/99 according to plans of an architect from Breslau, the silesian capital (Wroclaw). It is a massive brickstone church in neo-gothic style. Inside it is surprisingly bright and festive, the interior is originally preserved. I liked it, although not being a fan of such historistic buildings.

Location: An der Jacobuskirche, just a few steps south of the railway station, on a hill, dominating the southern parts of Görlitz with its tall spire.

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Weinhübel is a lovely village south of Görlitz (10 minutes by tram No. 3). It is located at the edge of the river Neiße and its large meadows - a beautiful landscape.

There are quite a number of old farmhouses preserved, not all of them spotless-clean restored, but they provide original rural ambience. At the southern edge of the village you find the parish church.

This church is really lovely. First mentioned in 1337 it was re-designed in Baroque style. The altar dates from 1693 - highlight is the beautiful painting in the centre (crucification, last supper etc.). The baptist angel figure is a nice one.

The village and the church are situated right by the biking/cycling path along the river. Don't miss the chance and get a bike, hop on and ride it!

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