Gorlitz, Germany

Rick probably doesn't consider it a worthy destination on his itenaries,we did a day trip to Gorlitz and another town from Dresden.The people of the region are Zorbs and they dress in their native costumes.The movie Budapest Hotel was filmed in the big department store in Gorlitz.If you need help contact me and I can get the info from my older Rick Steves book.
Mike

Many thanks. I've still got the 2011 edition, which was quite enthusiastic about the town. That's why I was wondering what caused them now to omit it. I intend to go there next April anyway, using the old book, but I just don't want any unpleasant surprises confronting me when I step off the train. Thanks again.

No, the people there aren't Sorbs. They live a few kilometers to the west, mostly around Bautzen. Many of the people in Görlitz are descendants of the Silesians who fled to the west in 1945, that's why you can still experience many Silesian tradition that were lost in Silesia when the population was exchanged.

Rick Steves propably doesn't include it anymore because the town is quite far away from Dresden, and if he lists all interesting places around Dresden the section simply becomes to big. I think that's a shame, since Görlitz is probably Germanys best preserved town, with 4.000 listed buildings. Or maybe because the town doesn't offer real highlights like a castle or a impressive cathedral? Görlitz is great if you want to see a perfectly preserved Central European town, where all architectural styles from Gothic to Commie blocks surround the core like onion rings. Even the synagogue survived.

I highly recommend a visit. IMHO the town deserves a full day, and if you want something really special spend a night there, since many hotels are in buildings with preserved interiors. The best one is Frenzelhof, a Late Gothic/Early Renaissance merchants home with just 6 rooms and a Gothic private chapel you can only see as a guest. Visit the Silesian museum, try Silesian food, see the Polish side with the Wilhelminian (former) Upper Lusatian Hall of Fame etc.. I also highly recommend to see Bautzen, halfway between Dresden and Görlitz. Bautzen is a beautiful Baroque town surrounded by impressive medieval fortifications and the cultural heart of the Sorbs.

Hi,

See Bautzen for the cultural reasons pointed out above and also for the historical reasons. That the movie was filmed in Görlitz and its mere location is enough reason to see that town.

but I just don't want any unpleasant surprises confronting me when I step off the train.

You will be met by members of the Church of Steves and instantly excommunicated for exploring beyond the limits of what the master has allowed.

Seriously, though... from what I understand, Mr. Steves and his company make editorial decisions on what to include and exclude based on many factors, foot traffic on his tours being one of the biggest. I doubt a town with as much history as Görlitz has changed enough in four years to suddenly be "unworthy".

Thanks to all of you for your comments/advice. Much appreciated.

Here's an older thread on your question, with an answer from Laura of Rick's staff: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/germany/136773

I loved my day in Görlitz (from Dresden) in September 2012. I called it "a mini-Prague, without the tourists." There were few English speakers, but if you can decipher a German menu, you'll be fine.

The biggest "problem" with Görlitz is that it's far from other places in Germany (it's even 90 minutes from Dresden). If you don't mind the travel to get to it, I certainly recommend seeing it.

Thanks, Harold. I'd already added the travel time into my plans. From what all my correspondents have written, maybe I should also add an extra day.