This is the administrativ district of Görlitz – diversity along the Neiße

A beautiful landscape, historical towns and villages with unique sights, people with centuries old traditions and customs – these are the trademarks of the administrative district.

The administrative district has a number of superlative characteristics: the Pückler Park in Bad Muskau, which belongs to UNESCO World Heritage is particularly impressive; the Nochten Findlingspark [foundling park] is unique in Europe and the large and small Zittauer Fastentuch [Lenten Veil] are unique in Germany and a rarity in Europe. Görlitz, with its original preserved buildings of gothic, renaissance, baroque, Gründerzeit [years of rapid industrial expansion in Germany] and Jugendstil architecture, is one of the most beautiful towns in Germany. The Monastery of St. Marienthal in Ostritz which was founded in 1234 is the oldest continually inhabited Cistercian monastery in Germany. The cast-iron observation tower on the Löbau mountain is unique in Europe. The castle and monastery ruins on the Oybin bear witness to European history. The Zittau narrow gauge railway and the forest railway Muskau attract railway enthusiasts from all over the world. The Oberlausitzer Umgebindehäuser [Upper Lusatian half-timbered houses] are not preserved anywhere else in such a large number. The Kulturinsel [culture island] Einsiedel in Zentendorf at the easternmost point of Germany has long become a term for a very special adventurous leisure activity. The Erlichthofsiedlung [housing estate] in Rietschen with its wooden houses, where craftsmen offer their work, bears witness to the once traditional folk architecture. The Zittau Mountains nature park is an area of outstanding natural beauty in the border area Germany – Poland – Czech Republic. The smallest German low mountain range fascinates with volcanic hilltops, picturesque valleys and bizarre rock formations. After gentle hills and valleys at the piedmont, the Görlitzer Landeskrone and Königshainer Berge [mountains] rise up in the administrative district. Northwards can be found the Heide- und Teichlandschaft [heath and pond landscape]. Part of this belongs to the UNESCO biosphere reserve. The lakes called Bärwalder See near Boxberg/O.L. and Olbersdorfer See near Zittau which resulted from closed lignite open-cast mining have already become a sports and leisure oasis and the lake called Berzdorfer See outside the town of Görlitz is not far behind. A special feature is the Geopark Muskauer Faltenbogen, a beautiful well-created bush end moraine with lonely moors and lakes. The magnificent landscape is accessible via a well-developed network of hiking trails, bridle ways and cycle paths.

One special feature is the evangelical Sorbs, who mainly inhabit the parish of Schleife. They are a national minority with their own Sorbian language and living traditions such as Vogelhochzeit [wedding of birds], decorating Easter eggs, Easter singing and the Christ Child.