The bridge across the Lusatian Neisse that connects Görlitz in Germany on the left with Zgorzelec in Poland on the right.
There is something mysterious about border towns, especially when they used to be one. Such is the case for Görlitz in Germany and its Polish counterpart Zgorzelec. Until 1945 this was one city, after World War II it was divided in two. Only since the fall of the communist regimes in the former so-called German Democratic Republic (DDR) and in Poland in 1989, the two cities got closer again. Two bridges across the river that the Nazi-German forces blew up were rebuilt. Both the German and Polish municipalities cooperate where they can in urban planning, and there is a joint bus line to easily get to both sides of the river.
Especially since 2010, hundreds of buildings in Görlitz have been rebuilt. Initially it looks like the German city looks more taken care off than the Polish side, as this has the centre of the combined city. But look closer and the divisions start to blur.
I visited the Zgorzelec/Görlitz in August 2024 and noticed that opposites attract. The contrasts between the two countries' cultures is noticeable, yet there are plenty of signs that show that these two settlements belong together and experiences of their surroundings are interchangeable.
The river bank of Zgorzelec in the east.
The river bank of Görlitz in the west.
An abandoned factory in Görlitz
Early morning in Zgorzelec.
Two signs you are in Poland: Tyskie beer and the Zabka minimarket.
A small apartment building at the river in Görlitz
The central bridge with a view into Görlitz
A revamped apartment building at the river in Görlitz
View at Zgorzelec from the small square in front of the St. Peter and Paul Church in Görlitz
Cobblestone street up next to the church in Görlitz
View at the Polish side through a opening in the wall in Görlitz
View east at the small square in front of the St. Peter and Paul Church in Görlitz
German border pole in Görlitz
The river Lusatian Neisse is the natural border.
Polish border pole in Zgorzelec.
On the German side of the central bridge.
On the Polish side of the central bridge.
Walking into Poland (Zgorzelec)
The main square, or upper market square of Görlitz
The road up to the main square in Görlitz.
The Nikolai Tower in Görlitz
At the upper market square in Görlitz.
Sidestreet in Görlitz.
Sidestreet in Görlitz.
Riverside cafés in Zgorzelec
The old mill in Zgorzelec
Morning panorama of Görlitz and the central city bridge that connects it to Zgorzelec, from where this photo was taken.