If you feel you have to buy Christmas decorations outside the season, there is an option in Görlitz: the Weihnachtshaus (Christmas House). The shop extends over 600 sqm on two floors and offers a wide choice of the traditional woodcarvings from the Ore Mountains and other regional Christmas ornaments.
This is a roomy, tidy, well assorted and well taken care of shop. Even if you don't plan to buy things, it is nice to browse through the shop and get an overview of the variety Erzgebirge woodcarvers make. There is a room with smokers, a room with pyramids, a room with nutcrackers, one with Schwibbögen, one with glass ornaments...
After Christmas, the shop closes for its winter break and only reopens in early April.
What to buy: Woodcarved Christmas items from the Ore Mountains, good quality from several renowned workshops, wide choice. Herrnhut Stars. Candles and other decoration from regional workshops. Easter decorations are also available.
What to pay: Probably a bit more than when buying directly from the producers. Quality has its price.
Updated Jan 6, 2011
Address: Fleischerstraße 19
Website: http://www.unser-goerlitz.de/einkaufen/goerlitzer-weihnachtshaus/
No, I am NOT kidding!
The building where you find the department store of Hertie (former Karstadt chain) today is the only originally preserved department store of Jugendstil architecture in Germany, built in 1912/13.
Very impressive is the gorgeous hall with stained-glass dome and the grand staircase.
UPDATE: Sadly, due to the bankruptcy of Hertie the department store is closed. There is, thank God, a drug store on the ground floor open so you can go inside and have a look at the architecture. However, it is very sad to see such a beautiful building with uncertain future.
What to buy: Nothing special, it is just an ordinary department store :-(
Updated Sep 26, 2010
Address: Marienplatz/Demianiplatz
The heart of the medieval city was the Untermarkt which features Late Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings and offers a glimpse into what the life of the merchants were in Görlitz heyday from 1480-1547.
What to buy: Today, many of the buildings are shops and cafes offering everything from postcards to local dishes. Saxony is noted for white wine so why not pick up a bottle while here too.
Updated Jul 22, 2006
You'll find pottery shops here and there in Görlitz. This one is so special because you can watch the craftsman manufacture the pottery. It is fascinating to see the process of forming, burning and painting.
There is a reason that the picture doesn't show some pottery. The house itself is worth visiting. The cellars were built in medieval times (on the picture remains of a jewish ritual bath), the three-floor townhouse was rebuilt in 1717 after a fire. The ambience of the vaulted rooms on the ground floor is just perfect for a pottery.
What to buy: all sorts of pottery
What to pay: You can get a good souvenir for 10 Euro, or you can buy a set for considerably more :-)
Written Sep 25, 2004
Address: Nikolaistrasse 8
Though perhaps not as impressive as the Untermarkt, the Obermarkt is no ugly duckling with numerous Baroque facades and a fountain noted for its water sprouting figures.
Written Jul 22, 2006
1 - 5 of 5
Sponsored Links
23 Opinions
5 Opinions
9 Opinions
Reviews and photos of Görlitz attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Görlitz sightseeing.

Though perhaps not as impressive as the Untermarkt, the Obermarkt is no ugly duckling with numerous Baroque facades and a fountain noted for its water sprouting...
2 members live in Görlitz
Q: I hate when things get to complicated. im going from Gorlitz to Wroclaw and i wonder whats best for me; a German train from...

A: Gorlitz ti Wroclaw is about 150K apart. Rented a car in Berlin and drove to SE Poland about 10 years ago. Not sure I saw a train but did see buses. Not much help - sorry.
Read 6 Replies
1

Görlitz is a still widely unknown jewel. The city looks back on a history of almost 1000 years. The city centre is a picture book of architecture from medieval to modern times. The oldest houses were...
2
Gorlitz - on the way to somewhere

I arrived in this town courtesy of VT. Somewhere along the line I'd been looking at Richiecdisc's pages and it attracted my attention. Then I went to German eagle's excellent pages. Here is the type...
3
The most eastern city in Germany

The Old Town (Altstadt) has one of the most prominent architectural heritages in Germany (Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Historicist, and Art Nouveau). Each wave of devastation allowed Görlitz to...
4

We came to Goerlitz on Easter Saturday on a day trip by train from Dresden. I liked Goerlitz very much and wouldn't mind to return in the warm season. The Silesian Goerlitz came to Sachsen in 1945......
5
On Finding Gems Unplanned: Görlitz

If Görlitz was located between Munich and Mickey’s favorite, Neuschwanstein castle, it would be a justifiably famous lunch stop for the mass of tourists that collect such “must see’ locations like...
Build your own Görlitz page
Sponsored Links