Schönbach: Half-timbered houses and forest
An unusual half-timbered house with a thatched roof in the lower village adds a distinctive feature to Schönbach’s townscape. There are also numerous restored Upper Lusatian half-timbered houses and a striking Protestant church. Schönbach lies in the Upper Lusatian Highlands Landscape Conservation Area and is surrounded by oak and other broadleaf forests. Those interested in regional architectural heritage can compare the many restored houses with this unusual thatched-roof house; the forest landscape provides a natural setting for them.
When looking for a holiday apartment, you can first decide what matters most: should Schönbach’s townscape and forest landscape be the deciding factors, or would you also like to consider cultural attractions in Görlitz? The towns offer different themes: in Schönbach, the focus is on local architecture and forests, while Görlitz offers a historic cityscape.
Görlitz: Urban history and architectural heritage
In the wider travel destination of Görlitz, a rich historic cityscape shapes its cultural appeal. The historic old town includes around 4,000 architectural monuments and is one of the best-preserved historic ensembles in Central Europe. Magnificent townhouses from the Renaissance and Baroque periods stand on Untermarkt, the historic heart of the city. Görlitz’s architectural heritage can thus be explored both in the context of the old town as a whole and at individual squares and buildings.
The Schönhof illustrates several chapters of the city’s history: after a city fire, it was rebuilt in the Renaissance style from 1526 onward. Today, it is the main building of the Silesian Museum in Görlitz and is one of the oldest Renaissance buildings north of the Alps. The Holy Sepulchre offers a different architectural and religious focus. Built between 1481 and 1504, the complex comprises the Sepulchre Chapel, the Chapel of the Anointing and the Adam Chapel. It is a unique replica of the holy sites of Jerusalem and the oldest surviving structure of its kind north of the Alps.
St Peter’s Church also brings together architectural and musical history: it is Saxony’s largest hall church and a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. The church’s Sun Organ was built by Eugenio Casparini towards the end of the 17th century and can imitate birdsong. Those who prefer to explore the city’s history through individual towers will find two different points of interest: the Nikolai Tower is Görlitz’s oldest surviving city tower and houses a small exhibition on the city’s history. The Reichenbach Tower houses a museum dedicated to the history of the city and its towers, and has an observation platform.
More cultural and nature experiences in Görlitz
For a stay surrounded by greenery, Görlitz City Park, laid out in the 19th century, offers expansive lawns, mature trees and walking paths in the heart of the city. At the Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz, there is an event held regularly each month: a live animal feeding takes place in the live animal area at 4 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month; admission is included in the museum ticket. Check the current calendar before your visit. The museum’s vivarium displays around 70 animal species in twelve carefully designed landscape enclosures across an area of 100 m².
For a self-guided exploration, the “Walk of Görliwood®” uses the free SmartGuide app to take you individually from film location to film location throughout the city of Görlitz. Check that the app is available before your trip. ViaThea, the street arts festival, is one of the regular highlights of Görlitz’s cultural calendar; check the dates and programme in advance. The options also differ in how you plan: you can choose when to take the Walk, while festival and feeding times are tied to specific dates.
During the summer months, you can explore the Neisse Valley from the water on boat and paddling tours. This offers a new perspective on Görlitz and a chance to enjoy the natural landscape along the river. As this activity is seasonal, it is advisable to check whether it is currently operating before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Olbersdorf, Weißkeißel, Bertsdorf-Hörnitz, Zittau, Weißwasser/Oberlausitz, Schönau-Berzdorf Auf Dem Eigen, Waldhufen, Kreba-Neudorf.
Back to the overview of the wider travel destination: Görlitz.
